Javan Shouey
The weekend is approaching, and we have a loaded slate of MLB action to enjoy on Friday, August 22. There are 2 MLB YRFI/NRFI best bets standing out to me this morning, so let’s dive in! You can also get our MLB picks for every game today and throughout the rest of the entire season.
YRFI/NRFI Best Bet: Red Sox vs Yankees – NRFI (-120)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -125 odds.
If you are looking for a NRFI bet on Friday’s loaded slate of MLB action, consider looking into the matchup between the Yankees and the Red Sox. New York is starting Max Fried in this matchup, and the left-handed starter had a very successful start to his first year with the Yankees. Fried has struggled a bit of late, allowing his ERA to spike from 1.92 to 3.26 within his last 8 starts. That being said, I still believe in Fried down the stretch as a reliable option for this New York club. In the first inning this season, the southpaw hurler has posted a scoreless frame in 17 of his 25 trips to the mound. He also pitched well against Boston earlier this season with 7 innings of 2-run ball.
Brayan Bello is set to start this game for Boston as the right-hander looks to build on his strong stretch of pitching. Bello has been a steady and reliable option for the Red Sox this season in a year that has seen numerous long-time Red Sox players exit the franchise. The righty has posted a 3.23 ERA this season across his first 22 appearances, and he has started games well with a scoreless first inning in 15 of his 21 starts. Bello tossed 7 scoreless frames in this matchup earlier this season and I expect him to deliver another scoreless first inning in this spot. Let’s ride with a quick start at Yankee Stadium for our first YRFI/NRFI best bet.
Read our full Red Sox vs Yankees prediction
YRFI/NRFI Best Bet: Astros vs Orioles – YRFI (-120)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -125 odds.
If you are looking for a YRFI best bet on Friday’s slate, consider looking into the matchup between the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles. Houston is set to start Lance McCullers Jr. in this game, and he is not a starting option that I often trust. McCullers Jr. has battled numerous injuries in the past, and his growth as a pitcher continues to stall as a result. While certainly talented, I am willing to bet against Lance in this spot. McCullers Jr. has posted a 1.74 WHIP and 6.90 ERA in his 44.1 innings pitched this season, including 9 walks and 10 earned runs in 11.2 innings this month.
Cade Povich is set to start this game for the Orioles, marking his 17th appearance and 15th start of the season. The southpaw hurler has posted a 1.44 WHIP and 4.98 ERA in his first 81.1 innings pitched for a Baltimore team that has struggled to find consistent starting pitching this season. Povich is tasked with a matchup against this Astros lineup that is a right-handed heavy unit, and Povich has struggled with both handedness of batters this season. While not my favorite game to track from start to finish, we could see a quick start and an entertaining first inning between the Astros and Orioles on Friday. Let’s roll with the YRFI for my 2nd YRFI/NRFI best bet today.
Find out today’s MLB best bets after our experts went 2-0 yesterday!
