Top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (9/25)
We’re fresh off of a 7-1 betting day yesterday, with our No Runs First Inning (NRFI) plays going 3-0 (+2.36 units) and our player props going 4-1 (+3.14 units). Let’s stay hot and close out the weekend in the green. We have a stacked Sunday in sports with a 15-game MLB slate to go along with a 14-game NFL schedule. My focus is still on Major League Baseball, and I’ve narrowed in on these three NRFI bets for today’s MLB action.
Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>
Houston Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Astros send Cristian Javier to the bump this afternoon as they attempt to salvage a series split with the Orioles in Baltimore. The O’s counter with Austin Voth in this A.L. clash set for 1:05 p.m. ET from Camden Yards.
Javier has been excellent this season and comes in at 10-9 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 28 appearances (23 starts). Most recently, the right-hander held the Rays scoreless over 5.0 innings and allowed just one hit and four walks. He picked up his second straight win, and Houston has now won his last four starts.
Voth is set to make his 16th start of the year and enters today’s contest at 5-3 with a 4.32 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. The righty last pitched on Tuesday against the Tigers and held them to two earned runs on six hits over 5.0 innings. Voth took the loss in a 3-2 final, but Baltimore is 3-1 over his last four starts.
For Voth, this game is all about the head-to-head stats. He has faced this Astros lineup in 27 at-bats and limited them to just five hits (.185), including no home runs or triples. Javier is right there with him in the head-to-head department. The 25-year-old hurler has limited the Orioles to 3-20 (.150) in his career with just one extra-base hit. Let’s roll with NRFI in this one.
Bet: Astros at Orioles NRFI (-125 via DraftKings)
Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins
The Marlins look to break out the brooms this afternoon as they turn to Edward Cabrera to handle the starting pitching responsibilities. Washington counters with Anibal Sanchez in this divisional showdown slated for 1:40 p.m ET from Miami.
Sanchez had a rough start to the season, but he’s bounced back nicely and is finishing the 2022 campaign strong. The right-hander comes in at 2-6 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 12 starts. Sanchez just faced the Marlins last Sunday and limited them to two earned runs on four hits and a pair of walks over 6.0 innings. Despite the quality start, he took a loss, and the Curly W’s have dropped his last two outings.
Cabrera looks to close out the season on a high note against a lowly Washington team. The righty is 6-3 on the year with a 2.91 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 12 starts. He last pitched on Monday against the Cubs and gave up three earned runs on three hits and three walks over 5.0 innings. Cabrera collected his sixth win of the year in the 10-3 victory.
Cabrera has only faced Washington once in his career, which was back in June of this year. He was electric in the start, lasting 6.0 innings and allowing just one earned run. The current Nationals roster is just 4-20 (.200) against him. As for Sanchez, he’s been great recently. The veteran righty has made three starts this month and posted a 2.08 ERA. As for this matchup, he’s limited Miami to 9-48 (.188) in his career. All things considered, I’m confident that we’ll have a clean first frame today in the 305.
Bet: Nationals at Marlins NRFI (-140 via DraftKings)
Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals
It’s a rubber match in Kansas City this afternoon as the Mariners and Royals close out their season series. The M’s opt for Luis Castillo while the Royals go with Max Castillo in this A.L. showdown scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.
Castillo’s been fantastic this season. So good that Seattle just extended him on a five-year deal worth $108 million this weekend. The right-hander sits at 7-6 on the season with a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 23 starts. Despite the overall success, Castillo is coming off of a tough outing against Oakland on Tuesday. He lasted only 4.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks. He took the loss, and the Mariners are now 5-4 in his starts.
Castillo is set to make his third start with the Royals after coming over from the Blue Jays in the Whit Merrifield deal. Overall on the season, the right-hander has made 11 appearances, with four of them being starts. He’s 0-1 with a 2.97 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 30.1 innings of work. Most recently, Castillo faced Detroit and held them to two earned runs on five hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. It was a no-decision effort that K.C. won 3-2.
Max Castillo has faced the Mariners twice this season and posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over 7.1 innings. They’re hitting just .160 against him in his career. On the flip side, The Royals have gone 8-31 (.258) against Luis Castillo in his career. Ryan O’Hearn has accounted for four of those hits (4-8, .500), and he hasn’t been playing much lately, getting just one at-bat over the last 10 days. If you take him out of the equation, the average dips to .174. Luis Castillo should be able to mow down this lowly Royals team and help hold onto the final Wild Card spot. Let’s lock in NRFI in this battle of the Castillo’s.
Bet: Mariners at Royals NRFI (-155 via DraftKings)
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