Best NRFI Bets Today: Time to Back Cy Young Favorite Tarik Skubal

Wednesday’s slate features plenty of big name pitchers, including a current Cy Young favorite and a former Cy Young winner. Tarik Skubal has been locked at the top of the odds board to win the AL Cy Young award while reigning champ Blake Snell has yet to round back into form in his new home with the San Francisco Giants. For more information about the NRFI market and what factors into them being worth a wager, read our breakdown of Daily No Run First Inning.

When making a wager on a NRFI, it’s vital to have as many sportsbooks as you can get in order to line shop for the volatile market. Each sportsbook has their own unique signup bonus, giving new users a boost to their bankroll in order to get a headstart with their betting during the MLB season. The FanDuel sportsbook for example is giving new users $150 in bonus bets for simply creating an account and winning their first bet of at least $5 wagered. Be sure to wager the $5 on a heavy favorite immediately after signing up, maximizing your chances of winning and collecting the $150 in bonus bets.

Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals - Tarik Skubal vs. Cole Ragans (2:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-132) at FanDuel

It’s been a spectacular start to the season for the Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, opening as high as +2200 to win the AL Cy Young award and now finding himself down to as low as +200. He has battled with Baltimore Orioles Corbin Burnes at the top of the oddsboard for a majority of the season, now finding himself as the universal favorite while he continues to shine and Burnes dips down to +400 as of writing.

Skubal now has an opportunity to pad his lead against the Kansas City Royals as their offense has flirted with negative regression. While the Royals offense ranks top-10 in Team Total Hits, Total Runs Scored, and RBIs, they actually rank well below league average in On Base Percentage. That means that they have maximized their scoring chances at an unsustainable rate, now poised to regress when their bats continue to run cold but without runners on base.

Tarik Skubal will do the Royals offense no favors in their attempt to continue their unsustainable run as he has been dominant for the Tigers when he takes the mound. The current AL Cy Young favorite comes into the contest with an ERA of 1.80, a WHIP of 0.782, 66 Total Strikeouts, 8 Batters Walked, just 35 Total Hits Allowed, and 11 Earned Runs Against in nine games played.

As for the Royals defense, they roll out Cole Ragans who has seen his name in the top-5 for the AL Cy Young award but still comfortably behind Tarik Skubal. His play has helped propel the Royals to second place in the AL Central standings, just 1.5 games back from the leading Cleveland Guardians. Expect Ragans to take advantage of an underwhelming Tigers offense as he comes into the contest with an ERA of 3.70 and a WHIP of 1.196.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-132) at FanDuel

San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - Blake Snell vs. Jared Jones (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel

While our first NRFI of the day targets a current Cy Young favorite, our next one focuses on last year's award winner with Blake Snell taking the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s been a rough year for the reigning NL Cy Young winner, having to go through a turbulent offseason that featured him as a pending free agent for a majority of the process. 

The Giants eventually scooped him up, but he has yet to look like his former Cy Young winning self as he has started the year with an ERA of 11.57, a WHIP of 1.971, just 12 Total Strikeouts, 5 Batters Walked, 18 Hits Allowed, and 15 Earned Runs Against in four games played. Luckily for Snell, his matchup against the Pirates is as good a chance as ever to round back into dominant form, taking on an offense that ranks well below average in Team Total His, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage.

On the other side of the field, NL Rookie of the Year contender Jared Jones takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates and their revamped defense. While they may struggle on offense, the Pirates defense ranks 11th in Defensive Efficiency while benefiting from the play of their young productive pitchers. Jones has helped play a role with their improved defensive play, coming into the contest with an ERA of 2.89 and an low WHIP of 0.906.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel

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