The final stretch into the playoffs is set to begin as baseball hits the middle of August. Some teams have been out for a while, offering a rare but timely opportunity to play a first inning total. There are still plenty of teams pushing for a division or wild card berth, so identifying some weaker hitters is a great strategy in keeping a scoreless sheet through one. Here are our best YRFI bets today, as well as our best NRFI bets today.
Best YRFI/NRFI Bets Today – August 12
Oakland Athletics at Washington Nationals NRFI
These two teams are prime examples of going absolutely nowhere. Facing each other negates any true “spoiler” motivation so expect these teams to play as poorly as advertised. The pitching matchup isn’t horrible on both sides, as Luis Medina comes in with decent numbers, including a 22.3% K rate.
Jake Irvin is a little worse, struggling through an 18.3% K rate to 9.7% BB rate. The one saving grace for both starters is limiting loud contact or long balls in this case. It’s not out of the ordinary for Irvin or Medina for that matter to make a mistake, but the opposition is just so weak. It’s been a profitable theme in tailing bad pitching against worse hitting. With nothing at all left to play for and talent that reflects it, don’t expect much action across the scoreboard.
Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros NRFI
A smaller request than the previous game to keep this scoreless which the odds certainly don’t represent. Plus-money for a scoreless first means a big bat or two for Houston stays silent, after Shohei Ohtani was handled in the top half. Getting there requires JP France to limit loud contact and trust his defense, along with Tyler Anderson getting just one strikeout. One K. Get that and an in-control France, and it’s enough to get through the first inning.
Normally any baserunner would be problematic for Anderson – 18.5% K rate to 9.4% BB rate – but there’s a decent chance he can exit the jam with softer contact, backed by a 86.8 EV and 31.6 Hard Hit% on the year. France doesn’t have to pitch to Ohtani either, as seen by times in which he’s gotten on base but the Angels have failed to score. This is absolutely worth a shot at anything +110 or better!
Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays NRFI
The last game features a ridiculous stat behind Shawn Armstrong, a strong arm in Gavin Williams for the Guardians, and a hint of desperation in the air. Armstrong isn’t meant to go deep in this game, but all that truly matters is a scoreless first. He’s kept a clean sheet through one in 10 of his last 11 starts, and gets the added advantage of pitching at home.
Williams is dealing this year for Cleveland; entering the game with 24.3% K rate but a more impressive .351 xSLG. He’s limiting hard contact which helps against the top-third of this Tampa lineup. A solid pitching matchup for at least the first two or three innings!
