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MLB picks Monday 5/1 - YRFI & NRFI best bets today: Blue Jays see it like a beach ball against Kluber 

MLB picks Monday 5/1 - YRFI & NRFI best bets today: Blue Jays see it like a beach ball against Kluber 

Ricky Dimon
Ricky DimonAuthor
UpdatedApr 29, 2026
Reading time3 min

Another week in Major League Baseball begins today, so why not start it off with some enticing YRFI/NRFI bets? There are plenty of options with which to work, as Monday’s schedule includes 8 games – up from the initial 7 because the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are playing a double-header.

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 Monday, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks. 

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Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox: YRFI (-125)

Corey Kluber is taking the mound on Monday and that is bad news for the Red Sox. It’s great news for YRFI bettors. The veteran righty is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA through 5 starts. He has given up a first-inning run in 2 of his last 3 appearances, including 3 runs to the Minnesota Twins on April 19. Adding insult to injury, Kluber now has to face a powerful Toronto lineup. Three of the Blue Jays’ first 4 batters are hitting .309 or better this season. The only exception is George Springer, and he delivered 3 hits in Sunday’s 10-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Springer is 9-for-24 lifetime against Kluber with 2 doubles and a homer; Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 5-for-9, also with 2 doubles and 1 HR; Whit Merrifield and Matt Chapman have both homered off Kluber twice.

The YRFI should cash in the top of the first, but if it doesn’t then Boston will still have a good chance to score. Jose Berrios is saddled with a 4.71 ERA in 2023 and leadoff hitter Alex Verdugo is 6-for-14 in his career against the right-hander with 1 home run. Rafael Devers has also gone deep off Berrios. The bats on these 2 teams should victimize the pitching early and often in the series opener. 

 

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Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers: NRFI (+102)

The Dodgers are finally starting to heat up in the early stages of this season, but they are still a modest 16-13 and have scored two runs or fewer in 3 of their last 5 games. It is a similar story for the Phillies, who have begun to pick up the pace but are just 15-14 following Sunday night’s 4-3 loss at the Houston Astros. Philadelphia has scored 3 runs or fewer in 3 of its last 4 contests.

Monday’s series-opening pitching matchup pits Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. Gonsolin has made only 1 start this year because of an ankle injury and he held the Pittsburgh Pirates scoreless through 3.1 innings. Walker has been mediocre so far for his new team, but he has surrendered a first-inning run only once in his past 4 outings. There isn’t any hitter in either lineup who has enjoyed any notable success against the opposing pitcher, so getting the NRFI at plus money is a great value play.

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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. 

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