There are 16 MLB games on tap for Saturday, including the Cubs and Cardinals in a doubleheader. There are some incredible pitching matchups, and teams sitting at the top of the standings are going head-to-head.
Great pitchers like Luis Gil, Grayson Rodriguez and Seth Lugo are set to go, and we'll look to take advantage with some No Run First Innings (NRFI) bets.
With NRFIs, you are betting that neither team will score a run in the first inning. NRFIs have become one of the most popular ways to wager in baseball.
Let's take a look at a few MLB games today and offer our favorite NRFI picks for Saturday, July 13, at the best U.S. sportsbooks.
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MLB NRFI picks for Saturday, July 13
New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles NRFI
The Yankees give Luis Gil the start on Saturday, and he has been one of their most consistent starters. He is 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and 1.09 WHIP, each ranking in the top 25 in MLB. Gil has been especially good early in games lately, allowing only one first-inning run in his last nine outings.
The Orioles go with the 24-year-old lefty Grayson Rodriguez, who has been excellent in his second full season in the majors. Rodriquez is 11-3, with a 3.52 ERA and 101 strikeouts. He has kept games tight early, only allowing one first-inning run over his last seven starts.
Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres NRFI
The Padres give Matt Waldron the baseball against Atlanta and hope he can keep pitching well early in games. Over his past eight appearances, he has allowed one first-inning run once. He needs to be strong because the best pitcher in baseball toes the rubber for the Braves, as Reynaldo Lopez and his 1.71 ERA take the mound. Lopez has yet to allow a first-inning run all season, which is pretty incredible, considering Saturday is his 17th start of the season.
NRFI pick of the day: Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox
The 34-year-old Seth Lugo is having a resurgent season and putting together one of the best stat lines of his career. In his first season in Kansas City he has posted a league-leading 2.21 ERA, with an 11-3 record. He is top 25 in WHIP (1.04) and strikeouts (110). He has been strong early in games, not allowing a single earned run over his last five appearances.
Countering Lugo is the Red Sox' Kutter Crawford, who has been a great surprise for Boston this season. Crawford started his season in the minor leagues before getting a few starts and cementing his spot in the Red Sox rotation through strong performance. Crawford has a 3.24 ERA, 106 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP, ranking in the top 30 of baseball for each. Crawford has made 17 starts this season and has allowed a first-inning run just five times. He is also coming off his best start of the season, going seven innings, allowing no runs, and striking out four against the Yankees in a 3-0 Boston win.
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