We’ve got an action-packed MLB Saturday to boost your bankroll before heading into today’s college football and NFL Sunday. There are games starting up in the early afternoon and continuing all throughout the evening. We’re going to isolate a specific play to eliminate all of the variables that come along with a 3-hour long game. By predicting if a run will be scored in the 1st inning or not, we can profit in about 15 minutes. We’ve targeted the best spots for today’s slate, so let’s get into it. Along with these early plays, be sure to check out our MLB picks for all of today’s games.
Let’s take a closer look at my favorite YRFI/NRFI bets for today.
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Unfortunately we aren’t getting things started with any of the afternoon games, but this NL Central clash should make it worth the wait. It certainly isn’t a rivalry, as the Cardinals have clinched the division and the Pirates have been one of the worst teams in baseball throughout the year.
That should allow Cards starter Jordan Montgomery to do his part of this prop. The lefty was absolutely dominant when he joined St. Louis from the Yankees at the trade deadline. He allowed just 1 total run over first 4 starts with the team. Although he hasn’t been as strong recently, the Pirates are the perfect lineup for him to bounce back agaimst. They’re the 4th-worst against lefties this season, and have struck out the 2nd-most. Montgomery hasn’t faced Pittsburgh yet this season, but this should be a much better start for him after facing the league-best Dodgers his last time out.
The less obvious half of this play is Pirates rookie starter Luis Oritz shutting down the Cardinals lineup. However, he has yet to allow a run in the 1st inning in any of his 3 starts, and looked incredible against the Yankees last week. That means he shut down Aaron Judge while he was out trying to hit his 61st home run. There’s also a chance the Cards will rest some players with the division clinched. Even if they don’t, Ortiz has proved he can at least get through the 1st inning with no runs on the board.
Be sure to check out our Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals predictions
Let’s move out west for another game that shouldn’t have any early action. The White Sox are traveling out to pitcher-friendly Petco Park in San Diego, which is the first factor for this play.
Even without that, Sox ace Dylan Cease is getting the start. Despite Chicago having a lackluster season, he has been incredible. There’s still an outside chance he can win the AL Cy Young award, and another great start tonight would certainly help. He’s held opponents scoreless in 3 of his 5 starts this month and had that incredible 14-game stretch earlier this season. Although Cease has been dominant, the Sox have lost each of his last 3 starts.
That speaks to their lack of run production, and there’s no reason to believe it will improve. Key hitters Tim Anderson and Luis Robert have been shut down for the season. That’s great news for Padres starter Mike Clevinger. He hasn’t been as great as the team was hoping this season, but it’s primarily been the Dodgers giving him issues. Despite that, he still held the league’s best teams scoreless in the 1st inning each of the first 2 times he faced them. His biggest threats in this matchup are Eloy Jimenez and Jose Abreu, who are both hitting just .222 against him. With the Sox depleted lineup, he should do his part for another scoreless 1st inning.
Be sure to check out our Chicago White Sox vs. San Diego Padres predictions
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