Mark Lammey
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We had a nice 2-0 day with YRFI plays, so let’s continue finishing out the season strong. After a loaded Sunday, the MLB usually has fewer games on Monday. However, that is not the case today. Every team is in action as the final series of the regular season starts up. There are still playoff spots and positioning at stake which can make games hard to predict against teams that have nothing on the line. Therefore, we can instead target if a run will be scored in the 1st inning or not and profit in about 15 minutes. Along with these early plays, be sure to check out our MLB picks for all of today’s games.
Let’s take a closer look at my favorite YRFI/NRFI bets for today.
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St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates: NRFI (-135)
Let’s get our early plays started with one of the earliest games of the evening. The Cardinals and Pirates played each other over the weekend and are doing so again to close out the season. The difference with this series is the location.
They’re heading to Pittsburgh for this one, which is good news for lesser action. PNC Park ranks 26th for home runs and the weather has been awful in the northeast. Cardinals starter Jose Quintana will be taking on his former team and he should be pleased to do so. Quintana has been great since joining the Cards and nothing short of incredible the past month. He allowed either 0 or 1 run in each of his 5 starts last month, which included a shutout win over the league-best Dodgers. During that span, he also kept the Pirates scoreless in the 1st inning and since then they’ve overtaken the Marlins as the lowest-scoring team in the 1st inning.
The less obvious half of this play is Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller having to take on the Cardinals lineup. Betting against Paul Goldschmidt and company isn’t always fun, but Keller has sneakily been great over the last month. He’s allowed more than 2 runs just once in his last 5 starts, and that began with an impressive stretch. His first 3 starts last month were against the Cardinals and Mets twice. Never once did he allow a 1st-inning run. His team may not have anything to play for, but Keller is certainly out to prove himself.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox: YRFI (+100)
Let’s transition into the more fun play of rooting for excitement. The Rays and Red Sox series actually has a bit more meaning to it as well with Tampa still playing for wild-card positioning. While they’ve locked up their playoff spot, Boston has had quite a disappointing season.
Despite that, they’ve still been allowing their stud hitters Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts to suit up to begin series and add to their incredible numbers. They are guaranteed at-bats in the 1st inning and are 2 of the league-leaders in doubles. Better yet, Bogaerts still has a chance to ruin Aaron Judge’s chances at a triple crown. He should be able to increase his average against Rays starter Tyler Glasnow.
Tampa just welcomed him back last week after missing the entire season, so he’s certainly not in midseason form. Even his most recent start against the Red Sox last season was Bogaerts driving in a 1st-inning run. Glasnow may also get some run support before he even has to take the mound. The Rays lineup will be facing the 42-year-old lefty Rich Hill. They should be pleased with the matchup, as they produced 3 runs in the 1st inning when they faced him 3 weeks ago. That was a 3-run homer by Randy Arozarena who Hill will have to face once again. His other starts against the Rays had the Sox scoring in the 1st inning as well. Regardless of who gets it done, both of these teams can produce early on Monday.
Check out Monday’s MLB mega parlay (+815 odds)
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