If you aren’t interested in a bet that will take 9 innings, one of the shortest-lasting bets you can make in an MLB game is if a run will be scored in the first inning. All it takes is 6 outs to glory, and one swing of the bat can make or break your bet. There is also a lot of value in these bets because the odds are usually very well-priced, and if you're not a fan of sweating out your bets for 3 hours then this one will take only about 15 minutes to win or lose. Before we dive in, don't forget to check out our'free MLB picks for every game on Friday.
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Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles: NRFI (-105)
This is more of a statistics play than anything. The Tigers have been the worst team in the first inning this season by a wide margin. Detroit averages the fewest first-inning runs per game and has the highest NRFI yet of any team. Eleven of Detroit's 19 games have featured a scoreless opening frame, which means the NRFI is hitting at a 65% clip for the Tigers. The root of their first-inning problems is obvious – their terrible top-of-the-order. With all due respect, Nick Maton, Riley Greene and Javier Baez aren't exactly viewed as a Murderers' Row by many teams. Those three hitters have a combined .198 batting average this season. Tyler Wells is starting for Baltimore, and I'm pretty confident that he can sit down Detroit's weak top-of-the-order.