My NRFI picks today feature a surefire NRFI play as the ever-low-scoring Nationals face the Giants, while my second pick is a YRFI in an Austin Gomber (11-10 YRFI) start for the Rockies.
It's a great day in MLB for some NRFI best bets, so let's get to it.
NRFI Pick Today: Giants vs Nationals (-115)
Giants vs Nationals Odds -- Game Time 12:30 p.m. ET
Rejoice! The Nationals (73-42 NRFI) are in action, which nearly always means a NRFI bet is in play. That's the move today, too, as Washington's lineup is truly a barren wasteland. I want to start by pointing out that no qualified Nats hitter owns a first-inning OPS higher than CJ Abrams’ .622. There’s truly no one powering this offense now that Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas are gone.
And a bad offense isn't our only gift. Kyle Harrison's solid 14-5 NRFI record is solid, but the Giants starter pales in comparison to DJ Herz (9-1 NRFI) of the Nationals. He has allowed just one run on five hits in 10 first innings, good for a 0.90 ERA and a .446 opponent OPS.
A brutal, brutal offense and an ace first-inning pitcher? This bet has everything covered from all angles, so make sure to get it in before the early 12:30 p.m. ET start time today.
YRFI Pick Today: Mets vs Rockies (-125)
Mets vs Rockies Odds -- Game Time 3:10 p.m. ET
Let's race to the point here: if Austin Gomber (11-10 YRFI) starts, you should bet the YRFI. Firstly, he's by far the worst first-inning pitcher in all of baseball, yielding a 10.29 ERA as the product of 24 runs and 33 hits allowed in just 21 innings. Gomber has also surrendered five homers, while opponents hit for a .990 OPS during that span. Basically, every batter turns into Bobby Witt Jr. against Gomber in the first inning.
And the Mets are hot right now, too. Jeff McNeil owns a 1.009 OPS in the last month, while Francisco Lindor is at an .876 OPS, vaulting him into the NL MVP conversation. Of course, we can't forget that Colorado also thrives in the first inning, which is why they have such intense first-inning success. In the last 30 days, Ezequiel Tovar (.988 OPS) and Michael Toglia (.917 OPS) have crushed baseball in the first inning, as you can see from their .900+ OPS. David Peterson (10-1 NRFI) is a tough nut to crack, but his failures likely won't be necessary to our YRFI play when Gomber does the trick.
