Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Sunday, May 22nd (2022)

May 22, 2022 - 2:45 PM

Sixteen games are scheduled in Major League Baseball today! The action gets going with the Cardinals looking to sweep the Pirates in a game set for 11:35 a.m. ET from PNC Park. The extra game on the docket is due to a White Sox vs. Yankees rainout from Friday. The AL foes will square off at 3:05 p.m. ET from the Bronx, and they’re also the featured game on Sunday Night Baseball at 7:08 p.m. ET.

We continued our hot streak with No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets yesterday, going 2-0! Here are a trio of wagers for today to follow along with throughout today’s action: 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians

The first game I like to keep a clean first frame is the Tigers vs. Guardians matchup. I had this one in yesterday’s write-up, but it was postponed due to the weather. It’s set to be the same pitching matchup between Alex Faedo and Shane Bieber, and it’s scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET from Progressive Field. 

Alex Faedo is a rookie right-hander with three starts for Detroit this season. The 26-year-old has a 2.87 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 15.2 innings of work this season, and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs over his three outings. One area that Faedo seems to stand out is in the walks department. Many rookies have issues with control when they’re in the developmental stages; however, Faedo has issued just four free passes over 15.2 IP this season. He was great last time out, allowing one earned run on four hits over 5.2 innings against the Rays. 

As for Shane Bieber, we all know what he’s capable of at this point in his career. The 2020 Cy Young winner is just 1-2 to start the year, but he’s posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Aside from one poor start against the Blue Jays on May 7th, where he allowed seven earned runs, he’s been great this year. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs over his other six starts. Bieber bounced back from the Toronto outing, limiting the Twins to one earned run over 6.0 innings of work. 

I think this is a relatively safe play to start the action on the diamond as Faedo has been reliable through his three starts this year. This one should hit, barring a Jose Ramirez home run in the bottom of the 1st. As for Bieber, he’s been one of baseball’s best hurlers over the last couple of seasons. I always feel confident backing the right-hander when it comes to betting. I expect a clean first inning in Cleveland this afternoon. 

Bet: Tigers at Guardians NRFI (-134 via FanDuel)

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs

The Dbacks are looking to break out the brooms this afternoon at Wrigley Field as they try to complete the four-game sweep. The Snakes send Merrill Kelly to the hill while the Northsiders counter with Wade Miley. This one gets going at 2:20 p.m. ET from Chicago.

Merrill Kelly has been impressive for Arizona to start the year, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.27 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. He’s made eight starts this year, and aside from getting touched up for eight runs against the Dodgers on Tuesday, he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his starts. The right-hander has faced the Cubs’ lineup in 26 at-bats, limiting them to just five hits. 

Wade Miley is set to make his third start of the season this afternoon. Contrary to most of his peers, he’s needed minimal time to ramp up his stamina in 2022. On Monday, the left-handed veteran went 7.0 innings of scoreless baseball against the Pirates and earned the win. He’s now 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. 

As I mentioned, aside from his previous start, Kelly has been nails for Arizona this year. If he keeps it up, he’s going to pitch his way out of Phoenix and onto a World Series contender. I’m expecting him to shut down the Cubs at home in the bottom of the first. Wade Miley is in great form, and while his most recent outing was against a lowly Pirates team, it was still a quality performance. Look for him to stifle the Dbacks at home this afternoon – at least in the first inning. It’s also worth mentioning that the wind will be blowing in for this game at five mph, so we shouldn’t see a barrage of long balls like Friday’s game. 

Bet: Diamondbacks at Cubs NRFI (-142 via FanDuel)

Chicago White Sox vs. New York Yankees (Game Two)

Let’s take it to the nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game for our final bet of the weekend! The White Sox take on the Yankees in game two of their doubleheader at 7:08 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium in New York. Michael Kopech goes for the Sox while the Bombers counter with Luis Severino. 

Kopech looks like he’s in Cy Young form. The 26-year-old righty is developing into a top-of-the-line hurler for the White Sox. He’s just 0-1 on the year, but he’s posted a 1.54 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through eight starts. Those numbers would be amongst the top of the leaderboard if he qualified for the innings minimum. Kopech just squared off against the Yankees last Sunday, going 6.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on just one hit. 

Luis Severino heads to the bump for the Yankees in the series finale tonight. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over seven starts. He recently limited the Orioles to one earned run over 6.0 innings and gave up just one hit and a pair of walks. 

There are many sluggers in each of these lineups, hence the “coin flip odds” that the bookmakers set for this NRFI wager. However, these starting pitchers have been reliable throughout 2022. This season, the White Sox offense has struggled, ranking 24th in OPS (.646) and 18th in team batting average (.233). While they have the big names in the lineup, they’ve yet to find their footing this year. I like Severino to shut them down in the top of the first. As for Kopech, I’m incredibly high on him. He’s been fantastic this season and should have no issues limiting the Yankees in the home half of the inning. Take NRFI for Sunday Night Baseball tonight. 

Bet: White Sox at Yankees (Game Two) NRFI (-110 via FanDuel)

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