MLB NRFI Odds & Picks: Bet a Scoreless First Inning in Rays vs. Athletics (Wednesday, May 4)

MLB NRFI Odds & Picks: Bet a Scoreless First Inning in Rays vs. Athletics (Wednesday, May 4) article feature image
Credit:

Mike Carlson/Getty Images. Pictured: Corey Kluber.

  • The Tampa Bay Rays take on the Oakland Athletics in afternoon MLB action.
  • Corey Kluber will take the mound for the Rays, while Frankie Montas counters for the A's.
  • Check out Shayne Trail's NRFI breakdown for Rays vs. A's below.

Shayne Trail breaks down his favorite NRFI/YRFI bet of the day below, but you can follow all of his bets in the Action Network app.


Rays vs. Athletics — No Runs First Inning (-155)

MatchupRays (Kluber) vs. Athletics (Montas)
First Pitch3:37 p.m. ET
Best LineFanDuel

With both teams achieving a YRFI and coming off a grueling extra-inning game, we will look to find value in the Rays vs. Athletics NRFI today.

Corey Kluber is a great example of how age doesn’t matter when it comes to being a great NRFI pitcher.

In 2021, his first-inning splits were nothing short of outstanding. In 59 hitters faced, Kluber allowed only 10 hits and five walks, giving him a .056 first-inning ERA. Since 2021, his NRFI splits are just as impressive, going 18-2 to the NRFI overall and 8-1 on the road.

Lastly, Kluber is 5-0 to the NRFI against the Oakland A's dating all the way back to 2015.

Kluber has dominated in some of his potential matchups:

  • Elvis Andrus: 2-for-16
  • Tony Kemp: 1-for-10
  • Jed Lowrie: 2-for-10
  • Stephen Piscotty: 0-for-3

Hitting struggles seem to have become worse for the A's in the last seven days, with multiple hitters hitting below .200:

  • Andrus: 3-for-21
  • Kemp: 3-for-21
  • Sean Murphy: 1-for-18
  • Piscotty: 1-for-13

On the other side, we have Frankie Montas holding a 29-8 NRFI record since 2021. More impressively, he holds a 21-4 home NRFI record since 2020. Lastly, Montas is 3-1 to the NRFI against the Rays since 2019 and 2-0 against them at home.

Like Kluber, Montas holds the upper hand in multiple key pitcher-batter matchups as well.

  • Randy Arozarena: 1-for-8
  • Yandy Diaz: 2-for-8
  • Brandon Lowe: 3-for-12
  • Wander Franco: 0-for-3

Some key Rays bats have gone cold in the last seven days as well:

  • Lowe: 5-for-29
  • Arozarena: 4-for-24

Look for these two American league teams' hitting struggles to continue. Take the NRFI between the A's and Rays.

As always, six outs to glory…


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