My NRFI picks today tackle a NRFI dream matchup between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs, followed by a battle of two elite first-inning pitchers who can carry the load and help our bets cash.
See our MLB NRFI picks today, and tail accordingly.
NRFI Pick Today: Cubs vs Nationals (-115)
Cubs vs Nationals Odds -- Game Time 6:45 p.m. ET
Cubs? Nationals?? NRFI??? If we see these two clubs in a game together, you better believe I'm going with the NRFI. Chicago (82-52 NRFI) and Washington (81-53 NRFI) are two of the best NRFI clubs in baseball, mostly because of brutal first-inning offenses. For example, the Cubs are batting .224 in the first this year, while the Nats bat .219. Washington is way worse lately, though. Over the last two weeks, the Nationals own a .422 OPS in the first inning. That's like sending me to the dish every at-bat. Washington's lack of first-inning power during that span (.200 SLG) gives me great confidence for today's starting pitchers.
Shota Imanaga (21-3 NRFI) is always a great NRFI bet. The Cubs lefty is an ace in the first inning, posting a 2.25 ERA and yielding just 10 hits in 24 outings. He holds opponents (regular opponents, often better than Washington) to a .462 OPS in the first inning. I can't imagine how badly he'll carve this flailing Nationals offense.
Nats starter Jake Irvin (19-8 NRFI) is nearly just as good as Imanaga in the first. He holds a 2.67 ERA while limiting opponents to a .664 OPS. That'll have to play against a Cubs offense that has been bad in the first, but better in the last 14 days (.818 OPS). Big Jake will dictate a great deal of momentum in our NRFI pick today.
NRFI Pick Today: Royals vs Astros (-115)
Royals vs Astros Odds -- Game Time 8:10 p.m. ET
Tune into this contest if you want to witness smooth pitching. We've got Framber Valdez (20-3 NRFI) challenging Seth Lugo (23-4 NRFI) in a pivotal matchup with AL playoff implications. We can start with Lugo, who's been excellent all around this year but especially sharp in the first inning, when he rocks a 2.33 ERA and .615 OPS against. While Lugo isn't super hot on strikeouts (20 Ks in 27 IP), the righty limits extra-base hits very well, yielding just six extra-base knocks and only one homer in the first inning all year. That'll be a key element against a top-heavy Astros order.
Meanwhile, Valdez enters this contest with a history of dominance vs the Royals. Active Kansas City hitters are just 9-for-54 lifetime vs Valdez with an ugly slash line of .167/.196/.315. That's no on-base ability and no power. Valdez has also struck out 21 hitters in 54 at-bats, so you know he'll be dialed in for this contest early. This is an easy NRFI play with two top pitchers on the mound and some fair betting odds.
