Best NRFI Bets Today: Fade These Two AL Central Offenses

It’s a tough slate for NRFIs as multiple underwhelming pitchers take the mound, as well as top tier offenses facing off against each other. Two NRFIs still stick out worthy of a wager, including a matchup between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers as both offenses continue to severely struggle. Before that takes place, we focus on the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets as Shota Imanaga looks to continue his hot start to the season. For more information about the NRFI market and what factors into them being worth a wager, check out our breakdown of Daily No Run First Inning.

When looking to make a wager on a NRFI, it’s vital to have as many sportsbooks as you can acquire in order to line shop the very volatile market. Each sportsbook also has their own unique signup bonus, giving new users a boost to their bankroll to wager with during the MLB season. The FanDuel Sportsbook for example is giving new users $200 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 or an alt line immediately after signing up, maximizing your chances of winning and collecting the $200 in bonus bets.

Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers - Erick Fedde vs. Jack Flaherty (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-120) at FanDuel

We kick off Friday’s slate of NRFIs with an AL Central divisional showdown between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. Both teams currently find themselves in the last two spots in the AL Central standings and are double digit games back from the first place Cleveland Guardians. While there's still plenty of season left to be played, it’s tough to see how either team can turn it around to make a run for the division title.

Especially on the White Sox end as they fail to field any sort of competitive production with their anemic batting lineup. Their offense is as bad as it gets as they currently rank dead last in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage.

With little to no offensive production, that bodes well for the Tigers in their efforts to limit their scoring opportunities. Their defense as a whole has been steadily regressing and now ranks in the bottom half of Defensive Efficiency. Luckily for Detroit, positive regression looms large with Jack Flaherty as he continues to neutralize opposing offensive production. Flaherty takes the mound with an ERA of 3.01, a WHIP of 0.953, 100 Total Strikeouts, 63 Hits Allowed, and 26 Earned Runs Against in 13 games played.

As for the White Sox defense, they roll out Erick Fedde who has been one of their very few consistent sources of positive production. In 15 games played, Fedde possesses an ERA of 3.09, a WHIP of 1.168, 79 Hits Allowed, and 30 Earned Runs Against. Fedde will be given a great opportunity to continue to succeed as he faces off against a Tigers offense whose young core has yet to take the next step forward with their offensive production.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-120) at FanDuel 

New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs - Jose Quintana vs. Shota Imanaga (2:20 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-117) at BetRivers

Well before our first NRFI gets underway, we focus on an afternoon matchup fading the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs as both offenses should struggle to generate offensive production. Especially on the Mets end as they have to face off against one of the most dangerous arms in the league when current NL Rookie of the Year favorite and Cy Young contender Shota Imanaga takes the mound for the Cubs defense.

After a brief cold stretch, Imanaga has seemingly rounded back into form and will look to shut down the Mets offense. Imanaga enters the contest with an ERA 1.89, a WHIP of 0.987, a FIP of 2.76, 78 Total Strikeouts, 64 Hits Allowed, and just 16 Earned Runs Against. Every bit of his production will be needed against a Mets surging offense that currently ranks above league average in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage.

As for the Mets, starting pitcher Jose Quintana has had a rough 2024 campaign as he continues to struggle with limiting opposing offensive production. With an ERA of 4.98 and a WHIP of 1.369, he doesn’t exactly fit the mold for a pitcher worthy of backing for a NRFI. Luckily for Quintana, the Cubs offense has been equally as bad as they rank in the bottom half of the board in the same previously mentioned offensive metrics.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-117) at BetRivers 

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