MLB picks Thursday 9/21: YRFI & NRFI best bets today - Our expert is on a 33-15 run!

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Yankee Stadium.
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Caleb Wilfinger

MLB

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Deputy Editor for Pickswise with years of experience handicapping and giving out winning picks. Lover of all US sports and Southampton FC. For Caleb Wilfinger media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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With plenty of MLB games taking place each day, one of the quickest bets you can make is if a run will be scored in the first inning. There is value to be had and this market has become very popular over time. If you don’t like sweating out your bets for 3 hours, this one will take only about 15 minutes.

I’m on a 33-15 run with my YRFI/NRFI plays, so let’s keep this momentum going! But before we dive in, don’t forget to check out our MLB picks for each of today’s matchups.

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Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees: NRFI (-125)

For my first pick on today’s slate, I’m going with the NRFI in this matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. This was a series that I targeted on Wednesday and I’m going right back to the well in the Bronx on Thursday. The Blue Jays need to keep winning to keep pace with the other American League Wild Card hopefuls, and Jose Berrios gives them a great chance to do so, having surrendered just 4 ER over 20 innings pitched in the month of September. He’ll be opposed by Gerrit Cole, who needs no introduction at this point. Even in a down year for New York, Cole has still been very good, holding a 2.81 ERA with 8 quality starts over his last 10 outings. Look for both pitchers to set the tone early in what should be another quick inning at Yankee Stadium.

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Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays: NRFI (-130)

For my second pick on Wednesday’s card, I’ll be targeting the NRFI in this matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays. By now, the Angels are just trying to get this nightmare season over with. Injuries to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani crushed their slim playoff hopes earlier this summer, and the Halos are limping to the finish line of another disappointing campaign. Don’t expect their depleted lineup to suddenly get hot against Zach Eflin, who holds a 3.03 xERA, .271 xWOBA and a walk rate that is in the top 1% of all pitchers per Baseball Savant. On the other side, Griffin Canning’s peripherals aren’t spectacular on paper, but his much lower xERA of 3.97 suggests he’s better than the raw numbers suggest. Expect a scoreless opening frame at the Trop.

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