Best NRFI Bets Today: Prominent Pitching Matchups Highlight Saturday’s Games

We have a pair of fantastic NRFI bets for you today. The first involves a game between AL Central rivals as the Minnesota Twins visit the Detroit Tigers. The other comes from a game between the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. 

Below, we’ll discuss our two favorite NRFY bets.  We’ll use odds from BetMGM Sportsbook, which gives new players who sign up using promo code WSMGM a $1,500 First Bet Offer.

For more betting opportunities, check out our list of the best MLB betting sites and our curated list of MLB promos and bonuses.

Best NRFI Bets Today: Twins vs. Tigers (6:10 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (-150 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

This is our favorite NRFI bet of the entire weekend, and it’s not even close. One reason is Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.65 ERA), who has an OBA of .214 the first time through the lineup. Combine that with the fact that the Tigers rank twenty-fourth in batting average, and you have a recipe for a quiet first inning. 

Another big reason we love this NRFI bet is Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.34 ERA, 0.92 WHIP). The 27-year-old ranks fourth in record, fifth in strikeouts, and second in ERA and WHIP. It has been especially difficult for batters to face him for the first time, with Skubal allowing just eight runs the first time through a lineup this season.

Skubal will have his hands full today against a good Minnesota lineup, but he managed to throw five scoreless innings against them this season. As impressive as the Twins have been at the plate, they are scoring a first-inning run in just 31% of road games in 2024. Considering Skubal has allowed just one first-inning run since May 6, we expect the Twins to once again go scoreless in the game’s opening frame. 

Best NRFI Bets Today: Cubs vs. Royals (7:10 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (-105 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

The price isn’t great for this bet, but it is one of the easiest bets of the weekend. On one side is a Cubs lineup that ranks twenty-fifth in batting average and twentieth in runs scored. Things have been especially bad since the All-Star break, with the Cubs being limited to just nine runs over their first six games since returning. 

The Cubs lineup has some dangerous hitters, don’t expect their poor play to change with Seth Lugo (12-4, 2.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP). The 34-year-old is having a Cy Young-worthy campaign for the Royals, and he is coming off a start where he allowed just one run on three hits across nine innings. We expect a similar outing tonight as he takes on a Cubs team that owns a .167 batting average against him.

Starting opposite Lugo will be Cubs’ starter Shota Imanaga (8-2, 2.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP). The lefty had a rough June but bounced back to post a 1.89 ERA across three starts in July. That includes quality starts against three dangerous lineups in the D-Backs, Orioles, and Phillies. 

The Royals’ offense has been better than expected this season, and they are doing damage in the first inning. However, they will be facing Cubs’ rookie Imanaga for the first time. Considering opponents are batting just .170 against the lefty, we think it takes at least one inning to figure out the former Nippon star tonight. 

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