Best NRFI Bets Today, April 24

Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays - Jose Urquidy (R) vs Taj Bradley (R)

Over 0.5 Runs (-130 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Houston Astros (12-10) are two games over .500% and back to a respectable record. Now they will face the Tampa Bay Rays (19-3), who own the best record in the MLB.

The Astros and the Rays have two of the top three pitching units in the AL, but that doesn’t mean there will not be runs scored. Tampa Bay is first in the AL in runs accounted for in the first inning at 1.23. In their last three games, the Rays have scored six runs in the first inning with four coming from the 8-7 in the first home game of the series versus the Chicago White Sox.

The Rays are easily one of the best offenses in the MLB as they have accounted for 149 runs in their 22 games. Their 149 runs are the most in the AL. They have nine players on their team that have accounted for 10 or more runs. There will be no doubt that the Rays will account for runs in this game and perhaps early.

The Astros are ranked fourth in the AL in runs accounted for (113) and fourth in hits accounted for (193). Houston is feeling great about their chances to compete with any team in terms of runs as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in two of their three games and they are coming off a three-game road series sweep over the Atlanta Braves.

Detroit Tigers vs Milwaukee Brewers – Matthew Boyd (L) vs Colin Rea (R)

Under 0.5 Runs (-105 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

For as good as the Milwaukee Brewers (15-7) are this season, they have not been great in accounting for runs in the first inning. The Detroit Tigers (7-13) are far from the model to follow in terms of offensive production either.

In the nine home games this season for the Brewers, they have averaged only .22 runs in the first inning, which is tied for 25th in the MLB. The Brewers have only scored in the first inning in one of their home games. That game was a 9-0 win over the New York Mets. They have not scored a single run in the first inning in the home series versus the Boston Red Sox.

The Tigers are last in the MLB in teams scoring in the first inning at .15. In their 13 games on the road, Detroit is averaging 0.08 runs in the first inning, which is easily the worst in the league just ahead of the Cleveland Guardians at .15.

To make matters worse for the Tigers, they possess the worst team in the AL in terms of accounting for runs, hits and batting average.

New York Yankees vs Minnesota – Jhony Brito (R) vs Sonny Gray (R)

Under 1.5 Runs (-140 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

This Monday, a new and exciting series will start between two serious AL Conference title contenders as the New York Yankees (13-9) will go on the road to take on the Minnesota Twins (12-10) in a three-game series.

This is a series that should be fun to watch just for the pitching performances. The Yankees will get Jhony Brito more starting experience and have him pitch more innings. Brito has a season ERA of 5.40, which is not bad as the Yankees’ youngest starting pitcher.

The Twins, on the other hand, will have their best pitcher out on day one at home against the Yankees. He alone should be the key reason to bet under 1.5 runs on Monday.

In 22 innings pitched and four games starting, Gray has allowed only 17 hits, two runs and nine walks while delivering 26 strikeouts. Gray has one of the most impressive pitchers this season in the entire MLB.

Gray will go against the solid power-hitting team of the Yankees that have a problem getting on base and accounting for runs. The Yankees are 10th in the AL in runs accounted for (93), 13th in hits (160), 10th in strikeouts (195), 11th in batting average (.227) and ninth in on-base percentage (.307).

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