Saturday’s action is loaded with double-headers as baseball has managed to cram in 18 total games. That means three extra chances to target a run or scoreless first inning, especially with teams coming off a game earlier in the day. Th strategy remains the same be it a small or extra large slate – targeting consistent starting pitching or heavy hitters at the plate. Here are the top three NRFI or YRFI picks for Saturday, August 19th.
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Best YRFI/NRFI Picks Today – August 19
Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals NRFI
This series opened Friday night with 15 combined runs despite holding a scoreless first. Expect that trend to continue tonight at least through the first inning. For a back end 5th option as a starter, things have been ok to fine for Christopher Sanchez. The Phillies will turn to him looking to turn around their fortunes after losing game one.
Sanchez comes in with a 22.9% K rate to a stellar 5.2% BB rate. No issues with a .307 xwOBA or .239 xBA either. The Nationals should see a quick exit after one inning. Jake Irvin has a tougher task but nothing too crazy. His 18.6% K rate to 9% BB rate is below average but the Phillies are wildly inconsistent at the plate, and even in games where they do it – it takes an inning to get cooking. Pass on any early run in this game.
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians YRFI
This game features a wider gap between pitching talent than the one above as Tanner Bibee at home should cruise. Bibee is pitching well to contact this year; be it the .291 xwOBA or .221xBA, even his 23.5% K rate is serviceable. Detroit masks their K rate with some sneaky power and that could be Bibee’s undoing, especially with a healthy Tigers lineup. Depending on who starts today, there might be a good chance for a solo shot in the top half of the inning.
If not, don’t worry, Matt Manning will ensure this thing doesn’t head to the second inning without at least one run. Manning is downright atrocious at times with 16.3% K rate, .352 xwOBA, and a 90.6 EV. These are just difficult numbers to work around when facing a team as strict at the plate as Cleveland. The Guardians don’t need to wear down Manning, they should go after him right away.
New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals YRFI
Another basement battle featuring two teams absolutely done in for the year. The lone bright spot in this game has to be Kodai Senga for the Mets, but even as great as he’s looked, the Cardinals can put on some early pressure. Both teams do have individual power at the plate for the first inning, which helps if there is any early mistake – especially by Senga. He’s been fantastic at times, nearly unhittable earlier in the year, but St. Louis can still draw an early walk or hit for double/HR type power.
Senga does have an 11.3% BB rate which could be a problem early in this game. The Cardinals will send Miles Mikolas to the mound and collectively hold their breath. That is, assuming they still want to win baseball games. Mikolas is the equivalent of a tank job in the NBA except the Cards were actually trying to win games with him on the team. Pete Alonso and the rest of the Mets are chomping at the bit for this one, so expect some runs to come right away.
