Javan Shouey
One of the quickest and most entertaining bets in sports is back today with our 2 favorite YRFI/NRFI picks for Monday’s slate of MLB action. I expect a slow start offensively in the Cubs vs Phillies game and a strong start from the bats in the Blue Jays vs Cardinals game. Let’s dive into our MLB YRFI/NRFI best bets for Monday, June 9, while you can also find out our MLB picks for EVERY game today.
YRFI/NRFI best bet: Cubs vs Phillies – NRFI (-125)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -130 odds.
For my first YRFI/NRFI best bet, we’re heading to Philly. Zack Wheeler is one of the sport’s premier starting pitchers, and I look forward to a strong start from the Phillies’ right-hander on Monday evening. Wheeler faces off against a tough Cubs lineup, but Chicago has been lackluster against right-handed pitching in the first inning this season. In that 201 plate-appearance sample, Chicago ranks 7th worst in wOBA with a wRC+ of just 99. Wheeler is allowing an OPS of just .427 to opponents the first time through the order, and in the first inning he has yet to allow a run this season.
On the other side, we have Matthew Boyd taking on the Phillies lineup that is without Bryce Harper. Harper’s absence is massive for this Phillies lineup that relies on his abilities, and it also harms his teammates as they now have less protection around them. Boyd enters this game in good form with back-to-back very strong outings, and the southpaw hurler has been at his best the first time through the order with opponents producing a .574 wOBA. The Phillies rank 11th in first-inning wOBA against southpaw pitching, but without Harper, I expect a scoreless first frame from Boyd on Monday.
Read our full Cubs vs Phillies prediction for tonight, featuring a plus-money pick!
YRFI/NRFI prediction: Blue Jays vs Cardinals – YRFI (-105)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -110 odds.
My favorite YRFI bet of the day comes in the matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals. Toronto will start Jose Berrios, who sports a 4.85 ERA in the first inning this season. The right-hander has allowed 7 earned runs in the first inning alone, and he now faces a dangerous Cardinals offense in their home park. St. Louis has been hitting right-handed pitching well with a 109 wRC+ and the 11th-best wOBA since May 1. When at home in that sample, they rank 10th in wOBA with a 118 wRC+. Berrios is capable of delivering quality outings, but is not a starter I fully trust, and the Cardinals have a good chance of getting to him early on Monday.
Andre Pallante also draws a tough matchup with a Toronto lineup that ranks 6th in wOBA with a 117 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since May 1. Pallante sports both shaky batted ball metrics and a lack of command, resulting in some long and disastrous innings from the right-hander. I don’t trust his ability to generate whiffs with any sort of consistency, especially in a tough matchup against a low-whiff lineup like the Blue Jays. With how both offenses are swinging the bat, I favor runs in the first inning of this game as my 2nd YRFI/NRFI best bet.
Find out our Blue Jays vs Cardinals best bet for today
