MLB's Opening Day was a blast, and although I went 1-1 on my NRFI picks, I'm back in the saddle here looking for two winners.
I'm eyeing Boston vs Texas for one of my NRFI picks, especially given how the Rangers struggled on offense last season. The Sox didn't look great on Opening Day either.
NRFI Pick Today: Pirates vs Marlins (-125 at Sportsbook)
Pirates vs Marlins Odds - Game Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Both offenses were awful last year, finishing near the bottom in OBP, runs scored, and RBIs, and neither team made meaningful upgrades over the offseason. The Pirates were the fourth-most reliable NRFI squad in 2024 at 95-67, and their weak lineup should help the Marlins’ terrible pitching from last year look better.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller’s control can be shaky, but he just posted a 2.40 ERA in Spring Training. The Marlins' Connor Gillispie’s 3.86 ERA in Spring Training isn’t impressive, but his 0.918 WHIP shows he’s good at keeping runners off the bases, which the Pirates’ low-contact lineup should struggle with.
NRFI Pick Today: Red Sox vs Rangers (+100 at Sportsbook )
Red Sox vs Rangers Odds - Game Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
The Red Sox’s top four hitters went a brutal 1-for-16 with seven strikeouts on Thursday, looking cold right out of the gate. Jack Leiter gets the ball today, and while his overall numbers last year weren’t great, he held opponents to a .200 average in the first inning over six starts.
The Rangers, meanwhile, managed just two runs on seven hits on Opening Day, with their top five hitters going a combined 2-for-18. Now, they face Tanner Houck, who shined last year and should help this NRFI bet clear.
