A baseball betting analyst has showcased impressive form this season with a 52-40-2 record on best bets, including successful Same Game Parlays at substantial odds and a winning 11-9 record on first-inning run predictions. The expert has now shared two key picks for Saturday's MLB slate.
For the crosstown Chicago matchup, the analyst favors runs in the first inning (YRFI) at -122 odds. Both the Cubs and White Sox have demonstrated strong early offense in 2025, with first-inning scoring rates of 31.4% (8th in MLB) and 30.1% (11th) respectively. The pitching matchup looks favorable for early runs, as Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-3, 4.04 ERA) has struggled in recent road starts, while White Sox pitcher Aaron Civale (2-6, 4.76 ERA) has shown poor control with a concerning strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The teams recently combined for 17 runs in their series opener, with 3 coming in the first inning. This follows the White Sox's previous game against Tampa Bay that featured 20 total runs.
For the Cleveland-Kansas City contest, the analyst recommends betting on no runs in the first inning (NRFI) at -113 odds. Cleveland's Tanner Bibee has pitched clean first innings in four of his last five starts, while Kansas City's Kris Bubic brings impressive statistics (2.38 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) and a strong 115-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio to the matchup.
Neither offense specializes in early production, with the Guardians ranking 27th in MLB with a first-inning scoring percentage of just 24.5%, while the Royals sit at 15th (28.2%) overall but drop to 24.0% when playing at home. These factors suggest both pitchers should start strong on Saturday.
