NRFI Best Bets Today: MLB No Run First Inning Picks + Predictions for June 30

Happy Tuesday! We’re back with NRFI and YRFI picks for June 30 on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. Let’s get into three first-inning MLB plays I love on today’s slate!

The Best NRFI Bets for Tuesday, June 30

• NRFI: Tigers @ Yankees (7:05pm ET)
• NRFI: Angels @ Mariners (9:40pm ET)
• YRFI: Pirates @ Phillies (6:40pm ET)

NRFI Best Bet: Tigers at Yankees

• The Pick: Tigers @ Yankees NO Run First Inning -165

We’ll start with the Tigers at Yankees at 7:05 p.m. ET, and I’m not going to overthink this one at –165 on Hard Rock Bet. We’ve got two of the most dominant arms in baseball squaring off.

Tarik Skubal is on the mound for the Tigers, and he’s been dominant for a couple of years running now. On the other side, Cam Schlittler is a true Cy Young candidate in the American League this season.

Skubal is only a few starts removed from an IL stint, and things haven’t been picture-perfect — including his last start against the Yankees, where he gave up multiple home runs to none other than Paul Goldschmidt. But he struck out nine in that game and eight against the White Sox the start before, so the swing-and-miss stuff is clearly there.

Goldschmidt is one of the few threats in the bottom of the first to put a thorn in Skubal’s side. But going back to a larger sample, Skubal posted a microscopic 1.45 ERA in the first inning of his starts last year, which isn’t surprising. Plus, the Yankees have looked flat over the last week or so.

Then there’s Schlittler, who’s been absolutely dominant. He owns a 93rd-percentile expected ERA with elite under-the-hood numbers, and he’s given up just one earned run across 17 first innings this season. He’s been borderline unhittable the first time through the order, and the juice is worth it here.

NRFI Pick: Angels at Mariners

• The Pick: Angels @ Mariners NO Run First Inning -145

Next, we head to the Angels at Mariners at 9:40 p.m. ET, where Jose Soriano duels Bryan Woo. We’re getting –145 on this NRFI, and I think that’s another really good price.

I understand Soriano has been on a bit of a slide compared to the beginning of the year, and Woo hasn’t been his most dominant self either. But the advanced stuff still really likes both, and pitching at T-Mobile Park is the big kicker. The Mariners’ park factor ranks dead last for offense, according to Baseball Savant, which is awesome news for a NRFI at a reasonable price.

Woo’s splits have been night and day (no pun intended). He’s allowed a 6.38 ERA across 48 innings away, but at home, his ERA is just 2.00, giving up only 10 earned runs across 45 innings while striking out 52.

I expect him to be extremely comfortable at T-Mobile Park. Soriano gets an upgrade in those friendly confines too, and he’s been much better on the road this year with a 2.64 ERA compared to a 3.99 mark at home. The matchup and the splits make a ton of sense.

YRFI Pick: Pirates @ Phillies

• The Pick: Pirates @ Phillies YES Run First Inning -105

Finally, we’ll go to the Pirates at Phillies at 6:40 p.m. ET, and I like this one for a run to be scored at –110 on the over. Honestly, it’s a great price, and it’s probably so generous because of Cristopher Sanchez and the unreal season he’s been having.

That said, Sanchez hasn’t been perfect over the last 30 days, and the Nationals got to him in a big way last week. Pittsburgh hasn’t been great against left-handed pitching, but there are still some bats toward the top of that lineup that can do damage. Brandon Lowe can still get it done against lefties, Bryan Reynolds is having a nice season as a switch hitter, and rookie Konnor Griffin has injected some life into the top of the order — he should be penciled in to lead off. There are some outs to play with for the Pirates.

As for the Phillies, I like the lefties here against Bubba Chandler, who has allowed an ISO north of .200 to left-handed hitters this season. He’ll likely have to navigate a gauntlet of Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and possibly Brandon Marsh, while Trea Turner appears to be rounding into form after homering on Monday.

On top of the talent at the top of both orders, it’s going to be a heat wave in the Northeast — temperatures could push 90 degrees with an excessive heat warning in play, so the ball should be flying in South Philadelphia.

Good luck Tuesday. Stay cool out there!

More ways to play

If you’re riding with a NRFI and every pitch matters early, Florida players can keep the excitement going with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, available exclusively on Hard Rock Bet. It’s a fast, fun way to stay in the action while you wait for the first inning to wrap up.