After an eventful offseason that featured plenty of moves that shook up the sport, the MLB regular season has started off with a bang. And while there are plenty of ways to wager on all of the action on the diamond this season, one of the quickest bets you can make is if a run will be scored in the first inning. There is still value to be had in this market, so it’s no wonder that these bets have become very popular over time . If you don’t like sweating out your wagers for 3 hours, this one will take only about 15 minutes.
I went 2-0 in my last YRFI/NRFI column, so let’s keep that momentum going! But before we dive in, don't forget to check out our MLB picks for all of today’s games on the diamond.
Minnesota Twins vs Detroit Tigers: NRFI (-120)
For my first selection in this market on Saturday, I’m going to trust a couple of pitchers that I’ve wagered on many a time over the past couple of seasons. Joe Ryan had a difficult 2023 season after a strong 2022 campaign, but the Twins right-hander looks to be rejuvenated this spring. Through his first couple of outings, Ryan has posted 3.18 ERA with an xERA of just 2.44, to go along with one of the better walk rates in baseball. Having allowed just 4 runs over his first 11.1 innings pitched, I expect another quick start in the first inning from Minnesota’s resurgent right-hander. On the other side, Kenta Maeda had a nightmarish start to the 2024 campaign against the White Sox, but he started to figure some things out against Oakland in his last outing. Look for Maeda to put together a solid first frame against a struggling Twins offense.