Best NRFI Bets Today: Back These Surging Cy Young Contenders

We start the day targeting the matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs as Shota Imanaga looks to round back into form and shut down the vaunted Phillies top of their order. We then shift our focus towards the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners as early inning offensive production should be tough to time come by against two Cy Young contenders. 

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 important to acquire as many sportsbooks as you have available to you in order to line shop the 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 $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.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs - Zack Wheeler vs. Shota Imanaga (8:05 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel

It’s been a turbulent season for the former NL Rookie of the Year award favorite as Shota Imanaga continues to go through a cold stretch that has drastically dropped him down the oddsboard. Once playing as one of the best pitchers in the league, Imanaga has seemingly lost control of his command and continues to get rocked as opposing offenses make contact at an alarming rate.

Fortunately for Imanaga’s season-long outlook, positive regression looms large as his cold stretch of play can be attributed to opposing offenses maximizing their minimal scoring opportunities. Imanaga still excels at limiting the number of opposing runners in scoring position, possessing a WHIP of 1.106 and a FIP of 3.24. His Strikeout Rate remains lackluster, but he makes up for it with a low Walk Rate by walking just 14 batters in 15 games played.

That bodes well when facing off against one of the best offenses in the league as the Phillies currently rank near the top of the board in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage. Especially with former two time Total Hits leader Trea Turner back in the lineup, giving their top of the order an elite contact hitter who also possesses blistering fast speed and can get into scoring position in a flash.

As for the Phillies defense, they roll out current NL Cy Young betting favorite Zack Wheeler as he looks to continue to pad his lead at the top of the oddsboard. Wheeler has excelled at limiting opposing contact while maintaining a high level of aggressiveness, possessing 112 Total Strikeouts to just 73 Total Hits Allowed. Against a Cubs offense that severely underwhelms at making contact, expect their offensive struggles to continue at the start of the contest.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel 

Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners - Corbin Burnes vs. Logan Gilbert (10:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-120) at FanDuel

After the conclusion of our first NRFI, we focus on the nightcap between the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners as a pair of AL Cy Young award contenders are set to take the mound. Corbin Burnes has been hot on Tarik Skubal’s trail as the Detroit Tigers ace continues to hold on to the top spot as the favorite while the Mariners Logan Gilbert continues to climb up the oddsboard after a dominant stretch of play.

Should Burnes want to leap over Skubal for the top spot on the oddsboard, then he will need to continue to play at an elite rate. His matchup against the AL West leading Mariners is a good opportunity to continue to succeed as their offense ranks dead last in Team Total Hits. That bodes well for Burnes’ hopes of closing the gap as he takes the mound with an ERA of 2.28, a WHIP of 1.031, 99 Total Strikeouts, 86 Hits Allowed, and 27 Earned Runs Against.

As for Logan Gilbert, he is presented a much tougher task as he faces off against an Orioles offense that ranks well above league average in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage. While elite, offensive production will be tough to come by as Gilbert has excelled at limiting opposing offensive production. Gilbert enters the contest with an ERA of 2.72, a WHIP of 0.881, and FIP of 3.35.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-120) at FanDuel 

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