As MLB begins its weekend slate, we'll gladly offer up some winning NRFI picks today. The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry will culminate in a sneaky NRFI pick, while the Tigers vs Reds game helps us double down our NRFI bets.
Here are our NRFI picks for today.
NRFI Pick Today: Red Sox vs Yankees (-115)
Boston vs New York Odds - Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
The Yankees were previously one of baseball's most reliable YRFI squads, but with the offense struggling, New York has delivered three consecutive NRFIs. We're counting on a fourth consecutive winning NRFI bet today.
Let's understand why New York is underperforming. After months of crushing baseballs in the first frame, New York's hitters own just a .652 OPS in their last 23 first-inning at-bats, hitting one homer and scoring just two runs during that span. Lead-off hitter Anthony Volpe has zero hits (0-for-5) in his last five contests, which checks out, as his .352 OPS in the last two weeks is among the worst in baseball. Even with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto hitting at normal rates, the Yankees' first-inning offense has been heavily reduced.
Tanner Houck starts for the Red Sox. He's a big factor in today's MLB expert picks, and he's key to our NRFI bet in this contest. Houck is a first-inning machine, pumping out a glorious 15-2 NRFI record, while holding active Yankees hitters to a .540 OPS.
Boston will challenge Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes, who, despite a 5.50 first-inning ERA, allows just a .702 OPS in the first frame this year. He's been terribly unlucky, as 13 of his 18 first-inning hits have been singles and opponents are batting .319 on balls in play. All told, Cortes has maintained a 13-5 NRFI record, and we'll need him to hang tight for the sake of our NRFI bet today.
NRFI Pick Today: Tigers vs Reds (-115)
Detroit vs Cincinnati Odds - Game Time: 7:10 pm ET
Let's give a standing ovation for Tigers starter Reese Olson, who, despite a nasty 2-8 record, has posted a 3.32 ERA and an outstanding 16-0 NRFI record. This kid from Gainesville, Georgia is the Michael Jordan of first-inning excellence. He's allowed just seven hits and zero runs in 59 first-inning plate appearances scattered over 16 starts. Opponents are batting just .132 off Olson in the first inning. This is fantastic, especially since the Reds also bat just .192 in the first.
A gentleman by the name of Carson Spiers starts for Cincinnati today, and he's been solid in limited action. After a bumpy first start in which he allowed three runs in the first, the 26-year-old has slammed the door shut, spinning two consecutive NRFIs against the Pirates and Cardinals. Spiers is set up for success again Friday, as the Tigers offense has scored a run in just 27 of 87 first innings, batting .239 in the process.
