It's Tuesday, May 20, in MLB, so it's high time for another slate of NRFI bets. Today, I'm banking on a NRFI thanks to two hot pitchers. Then I'm going YRFI in Walker Buehler's return from the IL.
NRFI Pick Today: Reds vs Pirates (-125 at Sportsbook)
Reds vs Pirates Odds – 6:40 p.m. ET
The Reds and Bucs are old favorites of mine who always seem to cash my NRFI bets. Neither club is especially dominant offensively, and pitching isn't a sore spot for Cincy or Pittsburgh. On Tuesday, it's Nick Martinez (6-3 NRFI) for the Reds and Bailey Falter (7-2 NRFI) for the Pirates.
Falter hasn't been perfect (five walks in his last start), but he's on a streak of 9.2 scoreless innings as he sizes up a Reds squad that is 10th in MLB with a 26-23 NRFI record, per our NRFI trends page. That gives me a good feeling about this bet.
Martinez should have it easy against a Pirates team with a brutal .201 BA in the first inning this year. Martinez is on a roll of his own with four straight quality starts, leaving this NRFI bet in good hands. I like my chances with both pitchers carrying strong momentum into this contest.
YRFI Pick Today: Mets vs Red Sox (-120 at Sportsbook)
Mets vs Red Sox Odds – Game Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
This is an easy YRFI pick for me. The Mets are slumping and have found themselves on the hook for two consecutive YRFIs. Meanwhile, Boston is no better, with three straight first-inning scores. And now what? It's Walker Buehler vs Clay Holmes.
Buehler returns from the IL and slots right into the rotation against New York, a club with some lofty power numbers against him. Active Mets are slugging .507 off Buehler, with Pete Alonso leading the way thanks to a 5-for-16 line with four bombs (1.375 OPS). Francisco Lindor is also 1-for-4 with a homer off Buehler. The Sox righty will face both those sluggers in the first frame.
All that offense on the Mets side will do it for me today at a reasonable -120 price.
