Best NRFI Bets Today, May 19

Miami Marlins vs San Francisco Giants - Sandy Alcantara (R) vs Anthony DeSclafani (R)

Under 0.5 (-145 at DraftKings)

Sandy Alcantara has struggled in a big way for the Miami Marlins this season, failing to resemble the unanimous NL Cy Young winner from last season. But the first inning under in his start against the San Francisco Giants tonight is heavily juiced, and we will take the bait, as we expect Alcantara to start to turn things around with a scoreless first inning in the Bay Area on Friday night.

Alcantara has an ERA just under 5.00 for this season, and he has dealt with injury concerns early in the year as well. But he has been going deeper into games, as he has averaged 8.0 innings of work in his last two games. In order to keep that longevity going in this contest, he will need to get off to a good start, and we expect him to do that in the bottom of the first against the Giants.

On the other side of this pitching matchup is Anthony DeSclafani, who has pitched well this season, going 3-3 with a respectable 3.06 ERA. He should benefit from facing a Marlins team that ranks 28th out of 30 MLB teams in runs scored this season. Expect DeSclafani to benefit from the Marlins’ scoring issues to hang a zero up in the top half of the first inning in San Francisco.

Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels - Joe Ryan (R) vs Reid Detmers (L)

Under 0.5 (-111 at FanDuel)

One of the best pitchers during the 2023 MLB season so far will take the mound on Friday night in Anaheim. Joe Ryan leads the Minnesota Twins into their matchup with the Los Angeles Angels, which should mean a scoreless first inning is not far behind, as long as the Angels can keep the Twins in check in the top half of the first.

Ryan has been dominant so far this season, going 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA through 50.0 innings of work. Over his last four starts, he has allowed a combined three earned runs across 25 innings pitched. He will continue rolling here against an Angels team that does have some dangerous bats in their lineup but has struggled to turn those bats into wins on a consistent basis.

Meanwhile, the Angels are sending Reid Detmers to the mound for this Friday night home game. He will be the question mark for this first inning under, as he has failed to hold any of the teams he has faced scoreless so far this season. But we like him to hold the Twins scoreless in the first inning here, knowing that he will need to hang up some zeroes to keep up with Ryan in this matchup.

New York Yankees vs Cincinnati Reds - Clarke Schmidt (R) vs Ben Lively (R)

Over 0.5 (-145 at PointsBet)

When the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds meet on Friday to kick off their weekend series, it will be a battle of surprising fourth-place teams in their respective divisions. The Yankees were expected to compete for first place in the AL East, while the Reds were expected to be at the bottom of the NL Central. But regardless of the place both of these teams occupy in the standings, a run in the first inning should be expected in this matchup.

The Yankees will put pressure on Reds starter Ben Lively in the top of the first inning in this contest. While Lively has pitched well thus far, posting a 1.69 ERA in his 5.1 innings of work, he has yet to face a lineup with the power bats that the Yankees have throughout the top of their batting order. Expect the Yankees to threaten in their half of the first inning at the plate, but the real issue will be the Yankees starting pitching here.

Clarke Schmidt gets the start for the Yankees against the Reds on Friday night, and Schmidt has been struggling mightily all year long. He is 1-4 with a 6.30 ERA and has allowed five runs or more in two of his last four starts. Schmidt will struggle again in this game, especially early on against National League hitters that he does not have much familiarity with.