Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
We are continuing the second full week of the 2023 Major League Baseball season with a small 7-game schedule on Thursday. It includes a couple of afternoon start times and then the Brewers and Padres will wrap up the proceedings at 9:40 pm ET. The YRFI/NRFI market has become extremely popular in baseball betting. After all, you don’t have to sit around for 3 hours (or maybe a lot less now that games are not as long on average!) to see if your bet hits; the satisfaction (or in some cases disappointment) is immediate. It all comes down to the first inning. Here are my best YRFI/NRFI bets for Thursday, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks for today’s slate.
You can bet on our YRFI/NRFI picks with FanDuel Sportsbook, which has a great new customer offer where you can get a $150 in bonus bets following an initial wager of just $5! Click here to take advantage of this incredible offer.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays: NRFI (-111)
When Jeffrey Springs takes the mound for Tampa Bay, you immediately have to start thinking about the NRFI. The 30-year-old southpaw was literally unhittable in his first start of the season, working 6.0 innings of scoreless and hitless baseball (to go along with 1 walk) against the Detroit Tigers. That performance included 12 strikeouts. Springs then befuddled the Oakland Athletics to the tune of zero runs on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
The Red Sox are countering with Corey Kluber, who doesn’t inspire as much confidence as Springs but should be able to get the job done. Since the 37-year-old righty was on the Rays last year, most of their hitters have faced him sparingly if at all in game situations. I expect Kluber to have success the first time through the order, just as he did in his first 2 starts of the 2023 campaign. He limited Baltimore to 1 through 3.0 innings and then held Pittsburgh scoreless through the first 3 innings. While Springs is a safe bet, I also think Kluber can hold up his end of the bargain.
If you’re looking for a new sportsbook, check out Bet365, the world’s #1 sportsbook. They have an amazing sign-up offer where you can bet just $1 and instantly get $365 in bonus bets! Click here to join Bet365 right now.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals: YRFI (+100)
Hopefully, the YRFI in this game will cash before we even get to the bottom of the frame. Andrew McCutchen, the #3 hitter for Pittsburgh, is 4-for-11 lifetime against St. Louis left-hander Jordan Montgomery with 1 homer, 1 double, 1 walk and zero strikeouts. Cleanup hitter Carlos Santana is 2-for-4 with a homer and a double.
Even if we do get to the bottom of the first and the YRFI is still in limbo, the Cardinals should be able to take care of business at the expense of Pirates righty Vince Velasquez, who is 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA through 2 starts this season. He surrendered 5 runs in just 2.2 innings in his most recent outing against the Chicago White Sox. Paul Goldschmidt is 5-for-14 lifetime against Velasquez with 1 home run; Nolan Arenado has 3 hits off the veteran pitcher, so he also has plenty of familiarity with this matchup. I see Velasquez being in trouble right from the start.
You can bet on today’s MLB YRFI/NRFI action over at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has a great sign-up offer where you can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your team wins! Click here to take advantage and claim your bonus bets right now.
Pickswise is the home of free MLB Picks. Check out the latest MLB Prop Bets and MLB Parlays as well as our MLB Best Bets from the experts.
