Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Odds for Monday, June 20th (2022)

Jun 20, 2022 - 4:15 PM

We have nine MLB games on the slate today, with action getting underway as early as 1:10 p.m. ET. That will be the Marlins looking to salvage a series split with the Mets, thanks to a dominant performance from Sandy Alcantara on Sunday. Other notable matchups include the Yankees opening up a three-game series with the Rays, the Blue Jays starting a three-gamer with the White Sox, and the Cardinals taking on the Brewers for the division lead for four games in Milwaukee. 

I’m locking in these three No Runs First Inning (NRFI) wagers for today’s MLB action: 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox

The Tigers are coming off a four-game series split with the Rangers, and they’ll head to Boston for three games. Detroit will send Alex Faedo to the bump as they look for their third straight win while the Red Sox opt for Josh Winckowski and go for their second consecutive victory. 

Faedo enters tonight’s game with a 1-3 record to go along with a 4.38 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over eight starts. The right-hander is coming off the worst start of his season, getting lit up for seven earned runs on nine hits and a walk against the White Sox. He lasted 3.0 innings and struck out five batters. 

Winckowski will be making his third career start tonight for the Red Sox, and he brings in a 1-1 record, 4.50 ERA, and 1.75 WHIP over 8.0 innings. The right-hander last threw on Wednesday against the Athletics and held them scoreless over 5.0 innings. He allowed just four hits and a walk in the winning effort. 

Faedo’s coming off a clunker, but that was his only poor outing this season. The right-hander hadn’t allowed more than two earned runs over his other seven starts this year. The rookie hurler boasts a road ERA of 2.25 over 16.0 innings, so look for him to get back on track tonight in Boston. As for Winkowski, he’s coming off of his outing of the year and running into a bottom-tier offense in the Tigers. Detroit enters tonight’s game ranked 27th in team batting average (.224) and 29th in OPS (.605). I think it’s worth a shot to ride with NRFI at plus-money in this one. 

Bet: Tigers at Red Sox NRFI (+104 via FanDuel)

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves

Game one of this four-game series between the Giants and Braves gets underway tonight at 7:20 p.m. ET from Truist Park in Atlanta. Logan Webb goes for San Francisco while Atlanta counters with Max Fried. 

Webb enters tonight’s action with a 6-2 record over 13 starts this season. The right-hander boasts a 3.43 ERA (37th) and 1.18 WHIP (36th) over 78.2 innings, and he’s coming off his best start of the year. Webb shut down the Royals over 7.0 innings on Tuesday and allowed five hits and three walks in a winning decision. 

Fried gets set to make his 14th start of the year tonight in Atlanta and comes in with a 7-2 record. The southpaw owns a 2.90 ERA (20th), and his WHIP sits at 1.05 (19th) before tonight’s action. Fried wasn’t too sharp on Tuesday as he allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings against the Nationals. But, he picked up the win, and the team improved to 9-4 in his starts this year. 

Both of these starting pitchers have been great this season for their respective ball clubs. With each needing to make up ground in their divisions, I think this adds a little extra motivation in the minds of Webb and Fried tonight. I expect a pitcher’s duel tonight, starting with a clean first frame. Webb has held the current Braves lineup to 9-44 (.205) with two extra-base hits, while Fried has limited the Giants to 11-50 (.220) with three extra-base hits. All signs lead to NRFI in this one. 

Bet: Giants at Braves NRFI (-113 via FanDuel)

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers

This is by far the most intriguing game on the MLB schedule tonight as the Cardinals and Brewers start a four-game series, and they each hold a share of the lead in the N.L. Central. Furthermore, in game one, we have a dynamite pitching matchup between Miles Mikolas and Corbin Burnes. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET from Milwaukee tonight. 

Mikolas has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. The right-hander comes in with a 5-4 record to go along with a 2.62 ERA (12th) and 0.97 WHIP (13th) over 13 starts. Mikolas is coming off a dominant outing against the Pirates, where he held them to one unearned run on one hit over 8.2 innings of work.

Burnes last pitched on Wednesday against the Mets, recorded a quality start, and picked up a win. The 2021 Cy Young winner lasted 6.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on five hits while striking out eight. He enters tonight’s game with a 4-4 record to go along with a 2.52 ERA (10th) and 0.95 WHIP (10th). Burnes has also struck out 100 batters this year, ranking second overall in the league. 

At least on paper, this game is shaping into an instant classic—a pitching matchup featuring two top-end starters with two teams notorious for playing in low-scoring games. I’m riding with NRFI here as both pitchers are in great form and should be able to limit their opponents early on. Burnes threw against the Cardinals in May and held them scoreless over 7.0 innings of work. Mikolas has faced the Brewers in 104 at-bats, holding them to a .240 batting average. Willy Adames and Hunter Renfroe are both 1-6 against him, while Christian Yelich is 5-28. Look for a scoreless first inning tonight in Milwaukee. 

Bet: Cardinals at Brewers NRFI (-115 via FanDuel)

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