Best NRFI/YRFI Bets 8/23: Bank on Early Runs in LA and NY
- Bobby Miller tries (again) to find form.
- Soto, Judge take aim at Freeland in Bronx.
- Read on for some quality breakdowns on these MLB picks and more!
Friday night in the majors means the onset of several new big series on the MLB calendar. It also means we are loaded up with quality NRFI and YRFI selections you can take to the BetUS Sportsbook for a quick win.
YRFI/NRFI Pick for Aug. 23
Rays vs Dodgers: Miller Time Has Been Flat
The last time the Dodgers were the home team in a game against the Rays they capped off a World Series win. Of course, that game was played in a neutral site (Globe Life Field in Texas) as part of the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign.
The stakes aren’t nearly as high as these teams meet in Dodger Stadium on Friday, but there is some importance as one of these teams (Tampa Bay) is clinging to a tiny shred of wild card hope and another (Los Angeles) is trying to beef up its division lead.
The Dodgers give the ball to Bobby Miller, who will be making his second start since a return to the rotation. It’s been a disastrous second year for the former first-round pick, who has an ERA of 8.02 (9.00 in the first inning) in eight starts.
Command issues have plagued Miller all year, whose current spot in the rotation is only there due to injuries to others. Tampa Bay, which ranks fourth in the majors in first-inning scoring percentage on the road (33.90), will be ready to pounce.
The Rays counter with Tyler Alexander, who is making his first start since May 17 after several bulk relief appearances. Check for MLB news updates to make sure Kevin Cash doesn’t go with an opener before moving on to Alexander, as Tampa Bay is wont to do.
Alexander owns a 5.17 ERA overall and will be going up against a Dodgers unit that ranks first in the majors in first-inning scoring percentage at home (43.55).
Bet on Rays-Dodgers First Inning to Score – YES
Rockies vs Yankees: First Place vs Last in the Bronx
New York has surged into first place in the AL East with a series win over Cleveland to start the week and gets a great opportunity to build on it with the lowly Rockies in town.
Carlos Rodon jumps to the bump for the Bombers as he tries to bounce back from a rough one at Detroit last weekend. The Tigers got to Rodon for a run in the first and three in the second as Rodon struggled to get into a rhythm, a theme for the veteran southpaw.
Rodon owns a 7.56 ERA in the first inning, giving up eight of his 24 home runs in that frame. That, along with a pretty dramatic tear for Colorado’s Brenton Doyle, makes for a dangerous first-inning encounter.
#Rockies Brenton Doyle hits this ball back to Nokesville, Virginia.
Doyle’s 21st home run (406 ft) spoils the shutout in front of friends and family in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/NS2bPGgBxY
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) August 22, 2024
Speaking of dangerous first-inning encounters, Kyle Freeland figures to have a few of them when he faces the Yankees in the bottom half. He owns a 7.43 ERA over three starts this month and a brutal 8.23 mark in seven road starts.
Freeland made one career start in the Bronx back in 2019 and it resulted in a rocky four innings in which he gave up five runs. He’s been pretty giving in the early frames this year and will be a prime target for Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who’s approaching the 50-homer mark after another blast on Thursday.
4 HRs in his last 3 games
48 on the yearAaron Judge bangs the gavel yet again 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/LftzsA39Ce
— MLB (@MLB) August 22, 2024
Nobody has scored more first-inning runs than New York. Freeland will be fortunate to survive that inning unscathed.
Bet on Rockies-Yankees First Inning to Score – YES
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Rangers vs Guardians: Bibeeovaldi Night in Cleveland
The Guardians’ lead in the AL Central is down to two games as they welcome the Rangers to town. They’ll lean on Tanner Bibee, who owns a 1.65 ERA over his last five starts.
The 25-year-old Bibee blanked the Rangers over 5⅓ innings at Texas earlier this season. He sliced through the opening frame in eight pitches in that game, part of a first-inning effort this year in which opponents have hit just .202 against him.
The Rangers won’t be coming into this one with much to offer on that end. They’ve scored a total of one run over their last two games and it came on a ninth-inning single for a walk-off win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Texas gives the ball to Nathan Eovaldi, who’s quietly been the model of consistency in recent years. Consider his ERA over the last five seasons, in order: 3.72, 3.75, 3.87, 3.63 and 3.76. Indeed, you usually know what you’re getting from Eovaldi, and that extends to the first inning this year, where he has a 3.68 mark.
Cleveland is 23rd in the majors in first-inning runs. Eovaldi is 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his career at Progressive Field. Let the veteran take care of business and finish off this winning MLB bet.
Bet on Rangers-Guardians First Inning to Score – NO
Bet On These MLB NRFI/YRFI Picks
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
Questions Of The Day
Are there any other games on the MLB slate that look good for a bet online?
Take Toronto at home against the Angels, who are in that play-out-the-string phase of the season. So, too, are the Blue Jays, but at least they’re putting some Ws on the board here and there (six in the last 10 games).
