Best NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Picks for Wednesday, July 2

Nathan Eovaldi and Shota Imanaga highlight our best NRFI bets today - can we build on our 36-25 record?
Best NRFI Bets Today - Wednesday, July 2
Pictured: Nathan Eovaldi- who's highlighted in our best NRFI bets today - throws a pitch in the first inning. Photo by: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Welcome to our best NRFI bets today for Wednesday, July 2. We're coming off another 1-1 night after the Boston Red Sox decimated our boy Chase Burns in the first frame. But hey, there's another opportunity today to turn the page and sweep the slate.

We're now sitting at 36-25 with 5.91 extra units in our pocket this season. Let's continue our adventure to the moon on Wednesday with a pair of plays I absolutely love. It's time to get into our first-inning picks and predictions using odds from our best sports betting sites.  

All of these plays are one-unit wagers unless specified otherwise.

Best NRFI picks today: Wednesday, July 2

  • Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago Cubs (-130 at FanDuel)
  • Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers (-110 at DraftKings)
  • Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays (-115 at FanDuel)

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Guardians vs. Cubs - 8:05 p.m. ET

Tanner Bibee (3.90 ERA) vs. Shota Imanaga (2.54 ERA)
NRFI record: Guardians (51-32) vs. Cubs (43-42)

We're rocking with Bibee and Imanaga as part of our best NRFI bets today.

Bibee is coming off a quality start against some of the hottest bats in MLB in Toronto, and is getting a Cubs team he hasn't had a problem dealing with. It's a small sample size, but Chicago is hitting just .118 against him with the top three going a collective 2-for-7 with three strikeouts. Let's get three here from Bibee. 

In Shota we trust. The Cubs right-hander has allowed just two earned runs across his last 15 2/3 innings, and is getting a Guardians team that simply can't score in the first inning. Look for him to continue that trend when first pitch flies from Chicago tonight.

Confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best NRFI bets today: -130 at DraftKings

Orioles vs. Rangers - 9:40 p.m. ET

Tomoyuki Sugano (4.09 ERA) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (1.87 ERA)
NRFI record: Orioles (46-39) vs. Rangers (52-34)

We're getting presented with another opportunity to roll with two of the top NRFI teams leaguewide as part of our best NRFI bets today, so let's take it.

The wheels have somewhat fallen off for Sugano and his AL Rookie of the Year odds campaign, but he's in a prime bounce-back spot here. It's no secret he's coming off his worst pitching performance of the season against the Rays. But now Sugano is facing a Rangers team that's a notorious slow starter, scoring a run in the first frame just once across the squad's last 10. Look for him to rebound in a significant way for us.

Eovaldi needs no introduction. Not only has he held this lineup to a .234 xBA across 95 plate appearances, but he has yet to walk one Oriole in his career while striking them out 30.5% of the time. Just insane numbers. Give him an opportunity to get us three outs as part of our best NRFI bets today.

Confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best NRFI bets today: -110 at DraftKings

Athletics vs. Rays - 12:10 p.m. ET

Mitch Spence (3.82 ERA) vs. Ryan Pepiot (3.36 ERA)
NRFI record: Athletics (48-40) vs. Rays (44-42)

Can I interest anyone in a little matinee NRFI? Not only are we dealing with two of the best NRFI teams in baseball going up against one another this afternoon, but the pitching matchup is stellar. It's a no-brainer to ride this game as part of our best NRFI bets today.

Spence has dominated the Rays across 33 plate appearances, striking them out at a near-34% clip while holding Tampa to a mere .197 xBA. The club's projected top three is 1-for-12 against him. That'll do.

On the other side, Pepiot is doing much of the same to this Athletics lineup, striking out hitters at a 31% pace and holding them to a nasty .260 xwOBA. For the amount of value we're getting here, this seems like a simple gamble to me, and I'd even bet this down to -130 odds at our best MLB betting sites. Let's start the day off with a little extra cash in our bankroll.

Confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐

Best NRFI bets today: -115 at FanDuel

💡 More MLB predictions today

❓ Best NRFI bets today FAQs

What is a NRFI bet?

A NRFI bet is a wager on a matchup to go scoreless in the first inning. You can either wager “No Runs First Inning” or “Yes Runs First Inning” depending on the type of bet you'd like to make.

How do I place a NRFI bet?

To place a NRFI bet, simply go to your favorite sportsbook, head over to the market and game of your choice. Then click on “first inning.” You should see an option to bet on a NRFI or a YRFI from there.

Can you parlay a NRFI bet?

The simple answer is yes! Just like making any parlay, you can combine two or more NRFIs across the MLB slate for any given day.

💵 Best MLB betting sites

Want to bet on baseball? Check out the best MLB betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today's games:

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