We've got our NRFI picks today for the lone MLB playoff contest. Tonight, it's a Game 5 NLDS decider between the Dodgers and Padres, a series that has seen tons of scoring. Now, we have a good grasp on the Y/NRFI trends, so I'm quite confident in our play for this evening.
See all our NRFI picks below for today's slate of postseason baseball.
YRFI Pick Today: Padres vs Dodgers (-115)
Padres vs Dodgers Odds -- Game Time 8:08 p.m. ET
We're down to a winner-take-all Game 5 in this crazy NLDS series, and frankly, the World Series winner could come out of this matchup. But that's a different bet. For now, let's hone in on the YRFI.
The YRFI has hit in all four games this series. Whether it's a solo homer or a swath of runs, these two clubs have scored in the first inning every time. Yu Darvish hasn't allowed a first-inning run, but he started Game 2 when the Padres scored first. Yoshinobu Yamamoto got torched by the Padres in Game 1, yielding three runs in the first inning. He's the weak link in my mind, as active Padres hitters own a 1.107 OPS against him in 35 at-bats.
Manny Machado is 2-for-4 off Yamamoto with two bombs, Fernando Tatis Jr. is 3-for-3 with a double, and Xander Bogaerts is 3-for-6 with a double. The top of San Diego's order is primed for a big day.
And then there's the anecdotal element of this big start. Dodgers starters have been shaky all series, and it's a lot to ask the Japanese rookie to start the biggest game of the season after getting torched last time around. My gut tells me Yamamoto won't be up for the challenge, so we can fade him with this YRFI bet.
