Javan Shouey
September is here and we have another month of YRFI and NRFI bets to make. Let’s dive in and take a look at our YRFI/NRFI best bets for Labor Day on Monday, September 1. You can also check out our expert MLB picks for EVERY GAME today!
YRFI/NRFI Best Bet: Blue Jays vs Reds – NRFI (-125)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -130 odds.
Hunter Greene missed a couple of months with injury but has returned in solid form, allowing just 6 earned runs in 17.1 innings during 3 outings in August. He will look to start September with a scoreless first inning and more, as he and the Cincinnati Reds take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto is a solid offensive unit, but Greene is an elite pitcher when healthy and he should be able to deliver a good start for his squad on Labor Day. He has made 14 starts so far this season with 11 scoreless first innings, and he has pitched a scoreless first in 6 of 7 home starts.
Chris Bassitt struggled in May and June but returned to form somewhat in July. August was a solid month for the veteran right-hander as he pitched to a 3.67 ERA in 27 innings of work for his club. Bassitt will be relied upon in the postseason for the Blue Jays as they look to make a World Series run in the American League. I expect him to find success today in his matchup with the Reds despite having pitched better in his home park this season.
See today’s Blue Jays vs Reds prediction
YRFI/NRFI Best Bet: Braves vs Cubs – YRFI (-105)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -110 odds.
My favorite YRFI bet for today’s slate of action comes in the Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs matchup. Spencer Strider is set to start for the Braves as he looks to find some decent form at the tail end of 2025. It has not been the season he or the Braves expected, as the right-hander has dealt with injury, rust and overall poor performance. The team’s performance has been underwhelming as well, but they are a candidate to bounce back in 2026 given their loaded roster. As for Strider in this matchup, I don’t like how he stacks up against this Cubs lineup. He allowed 21 earned runs in 18.2 innings during the month of August, surrendering 32 hits with 7 home runs in that stretch.
Colin Rea is scheduled to start this game for the Cubs, and there is a chance he could allow an early run as well. Rea enters this game with a respectable 4.23 ERA across his first 132 innings of work, but the right-hander has allowed 20 home runs on the season and has allowed a first-inning run in 7 games this season. Atlanta has several dangerous power threats at the plate capable of striking early.
With our experts on a hot 16-5 run, don’t miss today’s MLB best bets
