First-Inning Betting Guide: Rangers Set to Jump All Over Canning, Angels
After a 1-1 effort Tuesday night we’re back with some more first-inning scoring bets for Wednesday’s action in the majors. Read on and select an MLB first-inning bet for Sept. 27, and check back to yesterday’s roundup for a bonus pick, since the same Marlins-Mets matchup is on for today because of Tuesday’s game being postponed.
Dodgers at Rockies
One more Coors Field special before the season ends. In this case we have Los Angeles firmly locked into the No. 2 spot in the National League and little to play for other than staying loose.
The Dodgers will take aim at Noah Davis, who enters with an 0-3 record and an 8.97 ERA. The last time he faced a team from Los Angeles at home he gave up nine runs in three innings, and that was in relief against the Angels in that 25-1 shellacking back in June.
In his only prior start at Coors Field, Davis gave up seven runs in two innings. You get where we’re going with this. He will be ripe for the picking against this Dodgers lineup, even if some of the stars sit out what is a relatively meaningless game in the standings.
The Dodgers give the ball to rookie Emmet Sheehan, who has offered up a mixed bag of results over his first 10 starts. On the road it’s been a struggle, as he owns an 8.57 ERA away from Dodger Stadium.
That includes one start at Coors on June 29, when Sheehan allowed three runs – one in the first – in five innings. He owns an 8.10 ERA in the first inning this year, too, so all signs point to some early offense.
Among the best MLB bets you can make on Wednesday would be yes-RIFI on this Coors Field clash.
First Inning to Score: YES
Rangers at Angels
We go to Anaheim next for the big Dunning-Canning matchup, a celebration of the completion of our fall pickling period. Okay, it’s Dane vs Griffin with the former’s Texas squad closing in on an AL West title.
The Rangers saw their six-game win streak come to an end Tuesday, but they have 18 home runs over their last seven games. Even if Corey Seager has to take a night off, Canning will be tested early and he doesn’t necessarily have the numbers that engender confidence in a solid start.
Canning owns a 4.71 ERA in the first inning with nine walks and three home runs in 21 frames overall. Not horrific, but not great either. Throw in the fact that he’s been a tad more hittable at home and that he was pounded for four runs in only 3⅔ innings at Texas earlier this season.
As for Dunning, he’s seemingly hit a bit of a wall. The 28-year-old has posted a 6.75 ERA over his last seven games (six starts) as he grinds through a career-high workload.
Opponents have an .824 OPS against Dunning in the first inning, higher than each of the next six frames versus the right-hander. He allowed three earned runs, six hits and five walks in five innings in his last start against the Angels team, albeit with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the lineup.
Los Angeles scored three times in the first inning on Tuesday. Take a look at the MLB first inning betting lines and see if you can squeeze in another bet here in favor of some first-inning runs.
First Inning to Score: YES
Pirates at Phillies
Philadelphia has clinched a wild-card spot and will be a big factor in the NL playoffs for the second straight year. They have a few final tune-ups, including the continuation of a three-game set with Pittsburgh.
Ranger Suarez figures to be a Game 3 pitcher in the postseason. He’ll get one last start (maybe another on the last day of the regular season) on Wednesday with this one versus the Pirates.
Suarez has never been the best first-inning pitcher. He sometimes takes a bit to get going. That said, he has never had an issue – in any frame – with the Pirates. In five career appearances (two starts) versus Pittsburgh, he’s tossed 19⅓ scoreless innings while allowing only 10 hits (nine singles and a double) and one walk.
Current Pirates are 3-for-19 against the lefty. We’re riding those numbers against a Pittsburgh crew that has made big strides, but has produced just four runs over its last two games.
Johan Oviedo will be on the bump for Pittsburgh. He’s had some rough first innings over the course of the year, walking 22 batters in 31 frames overall. But the big right-hander has let up just one run in 11 innings over his last two starts and owns a 2.93 mark over his last 11.
The Phillies figure to trot out a makeshift lineup with nothing to play for in the standings. That should help Oviedo cruise through the first. On the list of MLB first inning Sept. 27 predictions, a quiet first inning in Philadelphia is near the top.
First Inning to Score: NO
