Best NRFI Bets Today: All Quiet on the Midwestern Front

We have a pair of fantastic bets for you today. The first comes from a game between NL Central rivals as the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs face off. The second comes from a matchup between the New York Mets and LA Angels.

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

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: Cardinals vs. Cubs (2:20 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (at BetMGM Sportsbook)

This is one of our favorite bets of the entire week. One reason is the pitching matchup we will have on the mound. 

On one side will be Cardinals’ veteran Kyle Gibson (7-4, 3.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP). The righty is having one of the best campaigns of his career. He got off to a rough start in July but has bounced back to allow just three runs over his last two starts (11 ⅔ innings).

We love Gibson’s chances to deliver a clear first-inning against the Cubs for the fourth time this season. His overall results against the Cubs have been mixed, but he has dominated the opening frame. We expect that trend to continue today against a Chicago team going scoreless in the first inning 78.38% of the time (27th in MLB).

The Cubs will also have a veteran on the mound in Jameson Taillon (7-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP). The 32-year-old is having an incredible season for Chicago, especially in situations like he will face tonight. With a 2.85 ERA during day games and a 2.68 ERA at home, we expect a strong outing from Taillon tonight.

In three starts this season, Taillon has had mixed results against the Cardinals, but he has not allowed them to score a run in the first inning. He hasn’t been alone in dominating St. Louis in the first inning, with the Cards scoring a first-inning run in just 22% of games this season (23rd in MLB). 

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Best NRFI Bets Today: Mets vs. Angels (9:38 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Both of these teams have been highly profitable for NRFI bets this season. The Mets fail to score a first-inning run in 77.78% of games (22nd in MLB), while the Angels do so 77.98% of the time (23rd in MLB). That means these two teams are among the most reliable for NRFI bets, and we see them delivering yet again tonight.

David Peterson (5-1, 3.52 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) will be on the mound for the Mets tonight. While the 28-year-old hasn’t been overwhelming in 2024, he has yet to allow a run to score in the first inning. While he hasn’t faced the Angels yet this season, he dominated a better version of the team last season, allowing one run over seven innings.

The Mets’ starter will have an easier challenge in front of him today. The Angels have been beaten up by injuries, leading to them scoring the fifth-fewest runs in the league.

Jose Soriano (6-7, 3.69 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) will start opposite Peterson today. The 25-year-old is having an excellent season for the Angels, though his July results have been a bit mixed. While some teams have figured the young starter out, opponents are still batting just .195 the first time through the lineup when facing Soriano.

The Mets' lineup has dramatically improved over the last couple of months, but they have been struggling to score early in games. New York has not scored a first-inning run since returning from the All-Star break, and we don’t see that trend changing tonight against Soriano. 

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