Javan Shouey
Friday’s slate of MLB action is loaded with potential betting angles, but this article covers our 2 favorite NRFI and YRFI best bets of the slate. Let’s dive in!
YRFI/NRFI best bet: New York Mets vs Kansas City Royals NRFI (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings time of publishing. Playable to -120 odds.
I expect a scoreless first inning in Friday’s game between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals. Kodai Senga draws a favorable matchup against an inconsistent and rather powerless Royals lineup. Senga has posted a 1.47 ERA on the season while allowing no more than 3 earned runs in any outing to this point. He has been lights out both on the road and in his home park, and he has been dominant especially against right-handed batters. The Royals ‘lineup is rather right-handed heavy, so I expect Senga to succeed in this spot.
Michael Wacha is set to start for the Royals — providing the other side with a quality pitcher, as well. Wacha has posted a 3.83 ERA this season so far while performing far better in his home park. Through 51.1 innings at home, the veteran right-hander has posted a 2.81 ERA. New York is the superior offense in this spot, but Wacha’s first time through the order has been very good to the tune of a .651 OPS allowed.
YRFI/NRFI best bet: Miami Marlins vs Baltimore Orioles NRFI (-110)
Edward Cabrera is in awesome form, allowing just 2 earned runs total in his last 2 starts, spanning a combined 14.0 innings of work against the Twins and Brewers. He has issued just 1 free pass in that time, a drastic switch from his command issues in the past. His ground-ball rate has been elite of late, and his willingness to attack the zone has resulted in fantastic results. Baltimore has been better when facing right-handed pitching than left-handed pitching this season, but I still don’t love their matchup against Cabrera in his current form.
Dean Kremer is not my favorite starter in the Orioles rotation but his numbers at home have been far better than his production on the road. In 38.0 innings at home, he has posted a 2.37 ERA including 7.0 scoreless innings against Tampa Bay in his last home outing. Kremer is not a high strikeout artist, but the Marlins youthful lineup is inconsistent and he should be able to get through at least 1 inning cleanly today.
