We come into our NRFI bets today hot off the heels of a cashing our Rockies-Cardinals NRFI pick on Thursday, so we’re back in the winner’s circle. Today’s NRFI bet features a pair of pitchers who have combined to cash 19 of their 22 no run first inning chances this season, so I’m feeling pretty, pretty, pretty good about this NRFI pick today. Let’s get into it.
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NRFI Bets Today: Best No Run First Inning Picks & Predictions
Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox | NRFI Bets Today
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I’ve raved A LOT about the NRFI King Jesus Luzardo in this article over the last season and a half, but there might be a new GOAT in town. And his name is Garrett Crochet. All this fella has done is gone 11-1 on NRFIs, and the one he missed was a total BS job in Philadelphia. So I’m willing to put my money on the guy whenever he’s on the mound.
Crochet has been pure filth on the mound this season, basically breaking the Statcast data model. Here are his percentile rankings for just some of the stat categories I like to look at:
- xERA (expected ERA): 98th Percentile … 2.19 xERA
- xBA (expected Batting Average: 96th Percentile … .185 xBA
- Fastball Velo: 91st Percentile … 96.8 mph
- Strikeout Percentage: 95th Percentile … 33.7
These numbers are INCREDIBLE, and it’s no wonder why he’s experiencing so much success.
Boston fancies itself a strikeout, especially against lefties. In fact, the Red Sox strike out more than any other team in baseball against southpaws — 28.3% of the time.
So this sets up to be an opportunity for Crochet to mow down the Red Sox in the top half of the first without giving up much contact, or any baserunners. That would be ideal for us. The less sweaty the better.
The Boston side of things will be handled by Cooper Criswell, who is 7-2 on NRFIs this season (and we somehow got one of the only two he missed). But this is 100% a system play against the White Sox and their putrid offense.
Chicago is dead last in wRC+, wOBA and on-base percentage against right-handed pitching this season, and it’s not really all that surprising when the top of the order starts with Corey Julks and Nicky Lopez.
All Criswell has to do is not let Luis Robert be the one to beat him. Make one of the other jabronis in this lineup beat him and prove they can be real hitters.
So if Criswell can navigate around Luis Robert, we stand a really good chance of cashing this NRFI bet here tonight.
Best NRFI Bets Today: Red Sox-White Sox NRFI (-124 at BetRivers)
