Best NRFI Bets Today

It's a Friday, which means we're set to ring in the weekend with the most exciting bet in baseball -- No Run in the First Inning.

(Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

I'm finding plenty of spots to play this prop, from a duel in New York between two disrespected pitchers to a game up in Boston which should feature a NRFI hero in Cooper Criswell. Then, I'll take us to the friendly Busch Stadium to back two veteran arms.

Let's get into those bets and give out some MLB NRFI predictions for Friday, July 12.

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MLB NRFI Prediction for Orioles vs Yankees

You may look at both of these players' numbers on the surface and think that there's no way this game goes under any sort of total -- especially with the strength of both offenses.

Well, I'm not sure that's the case.

1. Gerrit Cole has pitched pretty effectively, all things considered, as he's tried to shake off the rust in his first four starts back from injury.
2. He held Baltimore to just two earned runs through four innings in his first outing back and spun five brilliant innings against the Blue Jays just a week and a half later.

Yes, he's run into trouble on two occasions, but the start against the Mets featured four home runs and his most recent performance was against the Red Sox -- a team he's never pitched well against.

Cole's now struck out 14 in his last two outings and allowed just one home run, so with the Orioles struggling for power and Cole beefing up his fastball velocity to produce more strikeouts, he should be in play for a clean first.

Then there's Cade Povich, who hasn't necessarily pitched well in his rookie season but has made just six starts.

Given what we've seen in the minor leagues, we can expect some more strikeouts pretty soon with fewer walks, and here at the big-league level he's pitched a splendid .210 around many weak fly balls.

The Yankees have struggled with fly-ball arms this year and the top of their order owns much better splits against ground-ballers. Mix in a miniature slump for Aaron Judge and Juan Soto over the past week and I think you've got your first NRFI today.

NRFI Prediction: Orioles vs Yankees NRFI (+105 at DraftKings)

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MLB NRFI Prediction for Royals vs Red Sox

We're expecting Cooper Criswell to get the start for Boston here, and that's music to my ears.

The right-hander never should have been sent down to the minor leagues to begin with after pitching very effectively for Boston a couple of months ago, and all he's done since then is earn Minor League Player of the Week and a look to make it back into the starting rotation in Boston.

• Criswell's delivered eight NRFI wins in 11 starts, while his counterpart -- Cole Ragans -- has a 14-5 NRFI record.

We like that to continue here given the state of both offenses.

1. Boston's fallen back a bit of late on account of far too many strikeouts and the lefty Ragans has been an elite strikeout arm this season at nearly 30%.
2. Kansas City, meanwhile, has been able to limit strikeouts and collect a smattering of hits in the past few weeks, but it lacks in the power department which is going to make it tough to get to a brilliant contact-oriented pitcher in Criswell.

I expect a sluggish start in Boston, and a low-scoring game.

NRFI Prediction: Royals vs Red Sox NRFI (-110 at DraftKings)

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MLB NRFI Prediction for Cubs vs Cardinals

You know what? Kyle Hendricks has been Kyle Hendricks since returning to help an injury-riddled Cubs rotation.

• Yes, he had a stinker in Milwaukee, but a guy who has always pitched to an unbelievable number of batted balls is always susceptible to one of these.

Even in giving up seven earned runs over 3 2/3 frames, he really was defeated most by the two longballs he allowed in a hitter-friendly park.

Now, he'll pitch in one of the hardest parks in baseball to hit home runs in, and he'll do so with three positive starts in four tries since returning to the rotation.

• He's done well to limit hits and walks, and against a Cardinals team which likes to put the ball in play this is a great matchup for the righty.

On the other side, the top of the Cubs' order still isn't quite the same since losing Mike Tauchman and Sonny Gray continues to rack up punchouts.

The Cubs like to put the ball in the air and have had their struggles with strikeouts over the past few months, which should allow Gray to cleanly work out of the first.

I think you want to back the expert ground-baller and a Cy Young darkhorse here to bring us a slow start to this one.

NRFI Prediction: Cubs vs Cardinals NRFI (-130 at DraftKings)