Kyle Hendricks' struggling season continues to make him a prime target for first-inning run bettors as the Los Angeles Angels face the New York Yankees in Tuesday's MLB action. The veteran pitcher carries a concerning 5.20 ERA into the matchup, having surrendered at least four earned runs in three of his last five starts.
"YRFI" bets - predicting a run will be scored in the first inning - look particularly promising across today's 15-game slate, with three matchups standing out for early scoring opportunities.
The Yankees counter with Will Warren, who despite a recent scoreless outing against Kansas City, has seen first-inning runs scored in three of his last four starts. This pitching matchup makes the Angels-Yankees game a strong candidate for early offense.
Looking at the National League, the New York "Mets" visit the Atlanta "Braves" in another game primed for first-inning fireworks. Though the Mets have the fourth-most no-run first innings in the majors, their scoreless streak appears vulnerable against a Braves team that scores in the opening frame 46% of the time.
David Peterson takes the mound for New York having allowed first-inning runs in three of his last five starts. Meanwhile, Atlanta's Spencer Schwellenbach has witnessed first-inning scoring in an impressive six of his last seven outings. Talk about consistency!
Do you enjoy quick-result bets? The NRFI/YRFI proposition offers exactly that - just six outs and you know whether you've won or lost.
The third recommended play features the Baltimore "Orioles" visiting the Tampa Bay "Rays." The Orioles currently share the longest active YRFI streak in baseball at three games, while the Rays have seen first-inning scoring in a remarkable 59% of their home games this season.
Dean Kremer gets the ball for Baltimore with his troubling 4.99 ERA for the season, which balloons to 6.57 in June after recent rough outings. On the other side, Tampa Bay's Zack Littell has been solid overall but has allowed first-inning runs in three straight starts.
With these pitching matchups and team tendencies, early scoring seems likely in all three games. First innings matter more than you might think - especially when you've got money riding on them.
