NRFI and YRFI Picks 8/12: Snell, Sale Square Off
- Stellar matchup on the mound in San Francisco
- Kershaw vs Brewers in division leaders matchup
- Read on for today’s MLB odds and our best NRFI/YRFI picks.
Monday gives us a bunch of really big series that will be dripping with playoff race drama. It figures to be a great start to the week and we hope it’s a fruitful one as it relates to your MLB picks. Below are three suggestions on the RIFI front that should get you going in the right direction.
3 YRFI/NRFI Picks for Aug. 12
1. Braves vs Giants: Southpaws Sale vs Snell in San Fran
The NL West has to be the best division in baseball right now. It’s where you find the mighty Dodgers and the streaking Padres (until this happened) and the defending NL champs in Arizona. And it also has one of the hottest teams in the league in San Francisco, as the Giants are a fourth-place team that’s won 12 of 16.
Blake Snell’s recent surge is a big factor in San Francisco’s push into the playoff picture. Including his no-hitter at Cincinnati two turns ago, he is 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA in six starts since coming off the injured list in July.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has been quite good in the first inning, posting a 3.00 ERA while striking out 15 batters and walking two in 12 total frames. He also hasn’t allowed a run in 18 innings at home since his return last month. That gives you pretty good MLB odds of a scoreless first against Atlanta, which ranks 29th in the majors in first-inning scoring percentage on the road (16.95).
Chris Sale is bidding to become the first to 14 wins this year as he gets the ball for the Braves. He’s had a few shaky firsts here and there, but fewer of late, and most of the early damage has come via the home run ball. The Giants have hit just 13 first-inning homers all year – 22nd in the majors – and Sale’s let up only four in 66⅔ innings on the road.
Bet on Braves-Giants First Inning to Score – NO
2. Dodgers vs Brewers: Kershaw Continues Comeback
The Brewers finally cooled off at the plate over the weekend, first getting a 1-0 win on Saturday before falling 4-3 on Sunday against Cincinnati. That snapped a five-game streak that was filled with crooked numbers on the board.
Getting things going again won’t be all that easy against all-time great Clayton Kershaw, but we aren’t entirely sure what version of him we’ll get. This is the lefty’s fourth start of the season after returning from shoulder surgery and he’s yet to get through five innings.
The future Hall of Famer was pretty sharp his last time out and has tossed three scoreless firsts so far, but we can’t guarantee anything. The Brewers are fourth in the majors in on-base percentage against lefties and first in the majors in stolen bases at home. If someone gets on they’ll put immediate heat on the 36-year-old.
On the other side of the equation, we have Freddy Peralta and his 6.65 first-inning ERA going up against the big, bad Dodgers lineup that could have Mookie Betts back at the top.
Los Angeles leads everyone in first-inning scoring percentage (39.83) and it got to Peralta for three runs in the opening frame in a Dodger Stadium encounter last month.
Bet on Dodgers-Brewers First Inning to Score – YES
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3. Rangers vs Red Sox: Bello, BoSox Search for Winning Fenway Formula
It’s a bit head-spinning if you’re a Red Sox fan right now. They’ve lost four in a row, which comes on the heels of a 5-1 stretch, which was after a 3-8 span. And a team that’s taken advantage of their quirky home park for years just can’t seem to figure it out in 2024, as they’re now 27-31 at Fenway.
Boston will try to turn some of that around when it begins a set with the Rangers on Monday. Brayan Bello is on the mound as he continues to try to find the form that made him the assumed “ace” of the staff going into the year.
Bello enters with a 5.16 ERA, has a 5.71 ERA at home, and owns a 5.14 mark in the first inning. He’s given up at least one home run in six straight starts and the Rangers have some pop atop their order. They rank tied for second in the majors in first-inning scoring percentage on the road (38.33).
Texas is in need of a boost and it hopes Tyler Mahle can provide something over the final six weeks. He’ll be making his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery after giving the Rangers five innings of one-run ball against Houston last week.
Obviously, we don’t have much to go by this year with Mahle regarding the first inning. He’s been just fine in that frame in his career. What does stand out is the fact that he’s never pitched in Fenway Park, which can be an adjustment for some. The 29-year-old will need to make any necessary adjustments against an offense that’s fifth in the majors in first-inning OPS (.804).
Bet on Rangers-Red Sox First Inning to Score – YES
Question Of The Day
Are there any other MLB news items from over the weekend that might impact wagering?
Speaking of the Rangers, they’ve held their pitching staff together with band-aids and tape all season and the news on that front isn’t getting any better.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
