Best NRFI Bets Today: Tarik Skubal to Shut Down the Dodgers Offense

We kick off Friday’s slate with a battle between the current AL Cy Young and World Series betting favorites as Tarik Skubal is set to take the mound in an attempt to shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers elite top of their order. After that takes place, we turn our focus towards the matchup between the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels as both defenses roll out a pair of productive pitchers who are set to face off against two anemic offenses.

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.

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 immediately after signing up, maximizing your chances of winning and collecting the $200 in bonus bets.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Detroit Tigers - James Paxton vs. Tarik Skubal (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel

After coming into the year listed as high as +2200 for the AL Cy Young award, Tarik Skubal has swiftly climbed up the oddsboard after a dominant stretch of play and has been listed as the favorite for a majority of the season. The Baltimore Orioles Corbin Burnes is still nipping at his heels, but Skubal currently has the benefit of ranking better than him in most key pitching metrics.

Outside of his ERA of 2.37, Skubal currently ranks better than Burnes with his WHIP of 0.900, FIP of 2.55, 132 Total Strikeouts, 79 Hits Against, and 29 Earned Runs Allowed. To make his case for the award even more impressive, he has had to shut down opposing offenses with little to no help from his defense as the Tigers currently rank below league average in Defensive Efficiency.

Every bit of his production will be called upon against an elite top of the Dodgers batting order, a unit that includes current MVP betting favorite Shohei Ohtani, the speedster Will Smith, and former Total Hits leader Freddie Freeman. Their production, along with a deep lineup, has contributed towards impressive offense marks as the Dodgers currently rank near the top of the board in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage.

As for the Dodgers defense, they roll out a far inferior arm in James Paxton who has struggled to find his footing so far in 2024. With an ERA of 4.24 and a WHIP of 1.401, Paxton does not exactly instill confidence for a NRFI. Fortunately for us bettors, he gets the benefit of a backend that ranks first in Defensive Efficiency while tasked to shut down an underwhelming Tigers offense that ranks well below league average in the same previously mentioned offensive metrics.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel

Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels - Bryan Woo vs. Tyler Anderson (9:38 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-122) at FanDuel

As the season moves along, the Seattle Mariners hopes of winning the AL West division title gets more shaky as the Houston Astros continue to chip away at their lead. Now only a few games ahead of them with plenty of season left to be played, the Mariners need to string together a dominant stretch of play in order to ward off the surging Astros.

In order to do so, they will need to continue to rely on their elite defense that ranks number one in Defensive Efficiency. Mariners Bryan Woo has played a major role in their high marks in his minimal starts so far this season, taking the mound against the Angels with an ERA of 1.77, a WHIP of 0.689, and a FIP of 2.73. Expect Woo to continue to succeed against an offense that ranks poorly across the board in Team Total Hits, RBis, Runs Scored, and On Base Percentage.

Speaking of poor offensive play, the Mariners shockingly grade out worse than the Angels and are a major reason why they have struggled with consistency in their efforts to run away with the division. Expect their struggles to continue against the Angels Tyler Anderson as he has been a steady source of production for their defense. Anderson enters the contest with an ERA of 2.81 and a WHIP of 1.179.

Bet on Under 0.5 Run (-122) at FanDuel

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