Best NRFI Bets Today, August 4

New York Mets vs Baltimore Orioles - David Peterson (L) vs Dean Kremer (R)

Over 0.5 (-135 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

First-inning overs will make up the majority of our NRFI/YRFI bets for Friday night, starting with the matchup between the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles. In this game, both teams should have a decent chance of scoring in the first inning, thanks in large part to the pitching matchup. But both of these offenses are more than capable of scoring against even the best pitching out there.

David Peterson is set to start this game for the Mets, who has given up first-inning runs on a pretty regular basis this year. He is opposed by Dean Kremer, has 10 wins so far this season, but also has a 4.66 ERA. Both starting pitchers will be vulnerable against the bats that they face in this contest, which should make for an exciting first inning on both sides.

Offensively, the Orioles will be especially threatening to score in the first inning of this contest, given how they have performed at the plate in 2023. The O’s rank eighth in Major League Baseball in runs scored in the 2023 season. They will pose a significant threat to Peterson in the bottom of the first inning, as the Orioles look to set the tone for this contest right from the beginning.

Colorado Rockies vs St. Louis Cardinals - Chris Flexen (R) vs Adam Wainwright (R) 

Under 0.5 (+114 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

There is one first inning under that we like for this Friday's MLB slate, and that comes from St. Louis. There, the St. Louis Cardinals will host the Colorado Rockies, in a game where offensive fireworks will be expected. However, we will go the opposite route when betting on the first inning, and take this game to go scoreless in the first at a nice plus price.

Both Chris Flexen and Adam Wainwright have struggled so far this season, as both of them carry ERAs over 7.00 for the season. However, the price for one of these teams to score in the first inning has skyrocketed past the -140 mark. On principle alone, we are going to go with the NRFI, as there is still a perfectly good chance that both teams are held scoreless in the opening frame of this one.

The struggling offense of the Rockies is reason enough to take the NRFI in this game at plus money. Despite playing at Coors Field, the Rockies rank 22nd in baseball in runs scored this season. Adam Wainwright has been legitimately bad this season, but the anemic offense from Colorado in 2023 suggests that the veteran Cardinals' arm can hold them scoreless for three outs.

Houston Astros vs New York Yankees - Hunter Brown (R) vs Luis Severino (R)

Over 0.5 (-135 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Finally, we like a first inning over to close out our NRFI/YRFI card for Friday. The New York Yankees scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning against the Houston Astros on Thursday night. While we may not see three runs again in the first inning of their Friday night matchup, we will see at least one run cross the plate between these two teams.

The main reason to expect at least a run to cross the plate in this game is the fact that Luis Severino is pitching for the Yankees. Severino started his season late, as he had to recover from a lingering injury before he was good to go in 2023. But since returning for the Yankees, he has gone 2-5 with a 7.49 ERA, and the Astros will be a constant threat to him from the first inning on.

Of course, the Yankees are more than capable of putting up early runs of their own now that the top of their order is back intact. Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run on Thursday, which drove in Aaron Judge. It does not matter whether it is Judge doing the damage or it is Stanton doing it, there is always a chance that one of them will send a ball into the New York skyline in this game and every other game they are both involved in.

Check out other MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities!