My NRFI picks for today feature a surefire NRFI pick on the Pirates and Padres, as San Diego has been the worst first-inning offense in MLB for two weeks. After that, it's a YRFI play in the Jays-Angels game.
NRFI Pick Today: Pirates vs Padres (-115)
Pirates vs Padres Odds -- Game Time 9:40 p.m. ET
If you've tailed my picks before, you know how poor the Pirates offense is in the first inning. The Bucs hit .210 in the first and have now surpassed the Nationals for the most reliable NRFI record at 74-43. Nobody in the Pirates lineup owns a first-inning OPS north of .800, and the club has found little momentum in the first inning. So while Padres starter Joe Musgrove owns a 5-5 NRFI record, I believe Pittsburgh can deliver a fresh, juicy nothing burger and cover us on the first half of the NRFI bet today.
On the other side, San Diego has won many ball games of late. The Friars are 8-2 SU in their last 10 and they now threaten the Dodgers for top place in the NL West. But while this hot streak has happened, the club simply cannot hit in the first inning. And I mean the Padres can't hit at all. In the last 30 days, San Diego's hitters own an MLB-worst .477 OPS. The Padres have scored just first-inning runs during that span while batting .154.
SDP stinks in the first inning, and the Bucs can't hit either. It's a perfect collab for a NRFI pick today.
YRFI Pick Today: Blue Jays vs Angels (-115)
Blue Jays vs Angels Odds -- Game Time 9:38 p.m. ET
We've got a sweet opportunity for a YRFI mashup in the Blue Jays-Angels game in Anaheim today. Here's how I see it: Toronto has been a fantastic YRFI squad over the last two weeks, slashing .373/.387/.593 in the first inning, and their starter today, Bowden Francis, is 3-2 YRFI, which gives the Angels a strong chance to score.
Truthfully, I'm leaning very heavily on the Blue Jays in this matchup. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been baseball's hottest hitter lately, as he just closed the book on a 22-game hit streak Sunday. Guerrero will feast on Halos starter Davis Daniel (3-2 YRFI), whose 6.04 ERA grows to 9.00 in the first inning, where he's allowed five runs and 10 hits in five starts.
We've got fair odds for a game involving the Blue Jays, who are the second-hottest YRFI team in baseball right now. This is a smart play.
