Calling it his best bet of the slate, Holmes laid ‑166 on No Runs First Inning for Brewers–Pirates. The Brewers have the fifth-worst first-inning scoring rate, now running into 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. Holmes highlighted Skenes’ 80-grade, 99–102 mph fastball, 70-grade wipeout slider, and 2.44 ERA with 62 K in 62 ⅔ IP. Paired with Milwaukee ace Freddy Peralta, Holmes expects both hurlers to hang zeros in the opening frame at PNC Park, justifying the steeper juice.

Holmes backed Yes Runs First Inning at ‑110 for the Phillies–Athletics contest in Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, citing that the temporary Triple-A venue has seen a first-inning run in 37 percent of games—the highest mark for any big-league ballpark this season. Philadelphia ranks fourth in NL runs, carries a top-three on-base percentage, and sits top-ten in slugging despite a modest homer total. Harper, Turner, and Schwarber will face an inexperienced bullpen arm, making at least one first-inning run highly probable at near-even money.

Holmes played No Runs First Inning at ‑113 for Game 1 of the Orioles–Red Sox twin bill. He pointed out that Baltimore owns MLB’s third-highest NRFI rate while Boston ranks 11th. Historically, hitters in doubleheader openers swing early because they know 18 innings await, leading to quick frames. Although starters Cade Povich and Brayan Bello are hardly intimidating, Holmes expects aggressive plate appearances and pitch-to-contact approaches to keep the first inning clean inside Fenway’s hitter-friendly confines.

Dan Holmes recommended betting Yes Runs First Inning at ‑125 for Dodgers–Mets, arguing that Clayton Kershaw’s steep late–career decline makes him vulnerable right out of the gate. Holmes noted Kershaw has managed only one quality start since June 27 2023 and has appeared in just eight games since September 2023. He expects the balanced Mets lineup to take advantage immediately. Even though New York sends the red-hot Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.47 ERA in nine starts) to the mound, a single early run from either side cashes the ticket, and Holmes believes the shaky version of Kershaw provides that path.