Best NRFI Bets Today, June 5

Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox – Shane McClanahan (L) vs Bryan Bello (R)

Under 0.5 Runs (-120 at DraftKings)

The Tampa Bay Rays (42-19) and the Boston Red Sox (30-29) are set to conclude the final game of their four-game series in Fenway on Monday, June 5th. During this series, the Rays have won two of the three games in this series.

This series has not been easy for either team at the batting plate. The Red Sox scored eight runs to start the series but has since averaged only four runs in the next games. The Rays, on the other hand, have averaged five runs through the first three games.

This Monday’s game looks to be no different in the lack of prominent batting at hand. Tampa Bay is set to start Shane McClanahan (2.07 ERA in 69.2 innings) as the starting pitcher while Boston will be starting Brayan Bello (3.89 ERA in 39.1 innings). Both of these pitchers are the most efficient starters this season for their teams in terms of ERA.

Tampa Bay is ranked in the league in runs accounted for in the first inning (0.73) while Boston ranks 16th in the league (0.53).

During this series, neither the Rays nor the Red Sox have scored in the first inning. Despite the talent and the productivity of the batting this season from both teams, they have not found a spark for a run in the first inning in any of the three games.

With McClanahan and Bello set to start in Monday’s matchup, there shouldn’t be a reason to believe why this will change. Expect another defensive battle from these two teams and remain scoreless in the first inning.  

Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays  – Brandon Bielak (R) vs Alek Manoah (R)

Over 0.5 Runs (-140 at DraftKings)

 One of the most anticipated series this week is on Monday, as the Houston Astros (35-24) will go on the road to take on the Toronto Blue Jays (33-27) for a four-game series. Of all of the games in the MLB that are being played on Monday, this game is the most likely to have a run scored as well as the least likely game, where neither team is held scoreless at the end of the first inning, according to DraftKings.

The Astros scored in two of their last four games in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels. They are currently ranked sixth in the league in runs accounted for in the first inning (0.64).

The Blue Jays scored one run in the last three games in the three games at the New York Mets. This was surprising since the Blue Jays averaged 0.50 runs in the first inning on the road while they average 0.48 runs in the first inning at home. Toronto ranks 20th in the league in runs in the first inning (0.49).

Both Houston and Toronto rank in the top half of the AL in batting average and on-base percentage. The Astros rank seventh in batting average (.248) and seventh in on-base percentage (.319). Toronto ranks third in batting average (.266) and fourth in on-base percentage (.333). One of these two offenses has a great shot of getting their offense back on track in the first inning.

Houston should get more of a boost at the plate with the Blue Jays starting Alex Manoah (5.46 ERA in 57.2 innings).  

Oakland Athletics vs Pittsburgh Pirates – JP Sears (L) vs Johan Oviedo (R)

Over 0.5 Runs (-115 at DraftKings)

 Monday’s matchup between the Oakland Athletics (12-49) at the Pittsburgh Pirates (31-27) is set to be one of the more mild offensive games of the day. It is one of two matchups, according to DraftKings, where the under for either team to account for a run in the first inning is better to place a bet on than more than one run.

The biggest reason this game is chosen is that it is the Athletics, which is nearly a guarantee that they will not account for a run in the first inning. Oakland is ranked 27th in runs accounted for in the first inning (0.42). Last year, the Athletics averaged 0.44 runs in the first inning.

The Pirates have been able to score two runs in any of their three games last week. Outside of that one game, Pittsburgh is not an efficient scoring team in the first inning. The Pirates rank 22nd in the league n runs accounted for in the first inning. To make matters worse for the Pirates, they average 0.41 runs (0.12 less than on the road) in the first inning, which is 25th in the league.

The Athletics will be starting JP Sears (4.37 ERA in 59.2 innings), who is their most efficient healthy pitcher, on Monday. The Pirates will be starting Johan Oviedo (4.50 ERA in 56 innings), who is the team’s second-best healthy starting pitcher.

This game is a near-lock for no runs to be scored by either team in the first inning. 

Take a look at our favorite MLB sportsbooks before placing your bets! 

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