MLB NRFI Odds & Picks: Bet a Scoreless First Inning in Angels vs. Yankees (June 2)
Mike Stobe/Getty Images. Pictured: Nestor Cortes #65 of the New York Yankees.
Shayne Trail breaks down his favorite NRFI/YRFI bet of the day below, but you can follow all of his bets in the Action Network app.
Angels vs. Yankees — No Runs First Inning (-122)
| Matchup | Angels (Ohtani) vs. Yankees (Cortes) |
| First Pitch | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
On Thursday, we're eyeing Yankees stadium to take a NRFI between two star-studded American League teams.
Nestor Cortes, despite his funky release, has a respectable NRFI record at 20-5 since 2020. This is including his terrific 8-1 start in 2022. In 27 first inning batters, Nestor has only allowed five hits holding hitters under a .200 average.
The first inning walk rate is just as impressive; he has only issued one first-inning walk all season. Cortes should enjoy being in front of the home fans, he is 10-1 to the NRFI at home in his career.
Here is how Cortes has done against these Angels hitters in the past:
- Taylor Ward: 1-for-3
- Shohei Ohtani: 0-for-3
- Mike Trout: 0-for-2
- Jared Walsh: 0-for-1
The Angels hitters are scary on paper, but the last seven days they have been slumping:
- Taylor Ward: 2-for-13
- Mike Trout: 4-for-25
- Shohei Ohtani: 3-for-17
It should be noted that Matt Duffy is projected to bat fourth today and is the worst road hitter on the team with a .192 average.
Since the midpoint of May, the Angles rank 29th in the MLB with a 30% first-inning strikeout rate — only the Diamondbacks have been worse at 32.4%.
Shohei Ohtani is a great NRFI pitcher. Since 2020 he is 24-9 to the NRFI, including 6-2 in his 2022 starts. In this specific situation, when Ohtani is on the road and the total is less than or equal to 8 he is a perfect 6-0 to the NRFI. In 34 first-inning batters, Ohtani is holding hitters to a .161 average and has only issued three walks.
Ohtani hasn’t faced Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton yet in his career, but here is how he fared against other Yankees hitters.
- Joey Gallo: 0-for-3
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3-for-12
- Miguel Andujar: 0-for-1
Yankees, Anthony Rizzo is in a significant slump hitting just 2-for-18 in his last seven days. Judge is flirting with being in the slump category as well hitting 4-for-18 in his last seven days.
Look for Ohtani and Cortes to shine in the first inning of this double header. Take the NRFI between the Angels and Yankees.
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