MLB picks Wednesday 9/7: YRFI & NRFI best bets today - Red Sox and Rays rack up runs

Boston Red Sox's Alex Verdugo celebrates his walk-off, RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians

Mark Lammey

Show Bio

I've been a capper since my love for sports met my proficiency with numbers and math. The NFL and NCAAF have always been my first loves, followed by the NHL. Although I prefer sports that involve hitting people, I still love capping MLB, soccer, tennis, and even some esports. Living in Florida has its perks like year-round sports of any kind. For Mark Lammey media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.

Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays: YRFI (-105)

The Red Sox and Rays opened up their series by each scoring in the 1st inning, and the Rays just did again last night. They’re AL East rivals that are all too familiar with each other. There’s been a run scored in 4 of their last 5 meetings, and that trend should continue tonight. Despite not having the season they expected, the Sox still have some of the best hitters in baseball. They have 3 players tied for the 2nd-most doubles in the AL, most of which will see the plate in the 1st inning. Even Alex Verdugo’s 34 are the 4th-most in the AL.

Along with Xander Bogaerts leading the AL with his .315 batting average, they should produce against Rays starter Jeffrey Springs. He just faced the Sox 2 starts ago and allowed 4 runs in the 1st inning. Boston seems to have his number, as he also allowed 2 runs in his first start against them. That was also a game in which Sox starter Nick Pivetta was on the mound. The Rays scored 3 runs on him, meaning there were 5 total runs in that 1st inning. He also allowed 1st-inning runs to the Orioles, Royals, and Brewers in a 5-start span recently. With his most recent start against the Rays being a 12-4 loss, both teams have the ability to produce early tonight.

Be sure to check out our full Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays predictions

Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros: YRFI (-110)

We’re going to have to wait a bit longer for this next play, but the Rangers and Astros should make it worth it. They too are divisional opponents with plenty of familiarity between them. The Astros continue to be the best team in the AL, while the Rangers are 27.5 games behind them in the division. That may make it seem surprising that Texas has a solid opportunity to produce in the 1st inning. Despite their struggles, they have some incredible hitters at the top of their lineup. Corey Seager’s 29 home runs are the 5th-most in the AL, Nathaniel Lowe’s 150 hits are the 4th-most in the AL and Marcus Semien had 45 homers just a season ago.

Those sluggers will be facing Astros starter Cristian Javier. His most recent start was against the Rangers, in which he allowed 2 runs in the 1st inning. The Astros also scored in that 1st inning, which should not be as surprising. They have 1 of the league’s best leadoff men in Jose Altuve, and an AL MVP candidate in Yordan Alvarez batting third. Along with other stars like Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, they should have no problem against Rangers rookie starter Cole Ragans. He’s had just 4 career starts, one of which was him giving up 5 runs to the Astros. He followed up that performance by allowing a 1st-inning run to the AL-worst Athletics, so the AL’s best team can certainly do the same.

Be sure to check out our full Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros predictions

How to bet YRFI & NRFI bets risk-free

New Fanduel Sportsbook users can lock in a $150 risk-free bet on any market! Here’s how to claim:

Click here to register for a new FanDuel Sportsbook account. No promo code is required.
Make a first-time deposit
Simply place your first real-money wager on a YRFI or NRFI or any other MLB market you want to bet.
Regardless if your bet wins or loses, you win $150 in free bets. All winning bets will be fulfilled within 72 hours if they win.
Sign up now to claim your $150 risk-free YRFI/NRFI bet

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.