Shayne Trail breaks down his favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day below, but you can follow all of his bets in the Action Network app.
Gerrit Cole &
Sonny Gray
| Matchup | Cubs vs. Yankees · Orioles vs. Twins |
| First Pitch | 1:05 p.m. ET · 2:10 p.m. ET |
Today, we will create a custom No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bet by analyzing the performances of two pitchers. This personalized bet can be crafted through sportsbooks such as DraftKings and Barstool. This NRFI bet is different from a traditional NRFI, as it combines two separate half innings from the first innings of two different games. This approach allows you to have a better edge and tailor the bet to your preferences.
Our first selection for Saturday's custom NRFI features Gerrit Cole, the ace of the New York Yankees.
Cole has been proficient to the NRFI this season, holding a 13-5 record. This extends his impressive overall NRFI performance to 39-11 since 2022.
When facing batters the first time through the order, Cole has allowed a mere 29 hits in 158 at-bats (.193). In past matchups, Cole has held his own against Chicago Cubs hitters, with notable performances against Ian Happ (0-for-23), Trey Mancini (4-for-19), Yan Gomes (0-for-4) and Cody Bellinger (1-for-3).
Also playing to his advantage is the fact that the Cubs have struggled in the first inning — they have the second-worst first-inning batting average in MLB. They have managed only two hits in the last 27 plate appearances.
Additionally, some Cubs hitters are in the midst of a slump, with Mike Tauchman posting only two hits in his last 18 at-bats (.111), and Nico Hoerner recording five hits in his last 30 at-bats (.166). Yan Gomes has three hits in his last 16 at-bats (.188).
Our second selection is Sonny Gray, the ace of the Minnesota Twins.
Gray has been outstanding for the NRFI bet this season, holding an impressive 15-2 record. His home NRFI split is near perfect at 8-1, contributing to his overall NRFI performance of 36-5 since last season.
When facing batters the first time through the order, Gray has allowed a mere .186 average in 145 at-bats. Like Cole, Gray has also had success against specific matchups, with notable performances against Adam Frazier (2-for-16), Aaron Hicks (0-for-13), Cedric Mullins (0-for-8), Anthony Santander (1-for-7) and Adley Rutschman (0-for-3).
This custom NRFI selection is priced at -185 on DraftKings, but Barstool is providing a significant edge at -159.
As always, six outs to glory …
