Some people like to sweat out a bet for 9 hard innings – others like immediate satisfaction. Count us as being in the latter, which is why we like to get down with MLB NRFI and YRFI picks. And we’ve decided to pass that knowledge on to you with our NRFI bets for May 1. Go here for MLB World Series odds.
Of course, there are plenty out there taking blind guesses at this stuff. It’s easy to pick the best-hitting team or look at what happened in the last game. However, we spent the time pouring through the analytics to make sure that we give you the best odds to stay in the green on these NRFI and YRFI props for May 1. Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks – May 1
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
First Pitch – 7:07 pm EST
Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
Broadcast – MLB TV
In the top of the first, Jose Berrios will look to keep the Red Sox in check to get our NRFI started right. While his ERA is unlikely to blow anyone away, he has really settled in as of late. His last outing saw him keeping the Yankees – the 2nd ranked offense in the league – at bay. In 5.1 innings of work, the Yankees failed to produce anything on Berrios as he left the game unscathed on the scoreboard. I understand that the Red Sox’s offense has been really good as of late, but they are still a step or two behind the Yankees. As a result, I’m fine with the idea that Berrios will get three early outs.
Speaking of pitchers with rough numbers on the edges, Tanner Houck takes the bump on Thursday against the Blue Jays. Some NRFI bettors are sweating just looking at that sentence right there. However, the Blue Jays are pretty weak with the bats. They rank 25th in runs scored on the year and are even worse in the first inning – where they rank 27th in MLB. Additionally, his outing against the Blue Jays earlier in the year was Houck’s best. Houck went 6.2 innings in that one and allowed just one earned run in the process. I like his chances to right the ship in this game.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for May 1: No (-120)
Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Angels
First Pitch – 9:38 pm EST
Angel Stadium – Anaheim, CA
Broadcast – MLB TV
Yusei Kikuchi has the honors in the top of the first in this one. He got absolutely hammered last time out by the Twins, but had looked sharp prior to that outing. If we throw that one out as a blip on the radar, he had two prior outings (11.1 innings) with just one earned run allowed. In that span, he also struck out 12 batters. The Tigers are a solid hitting team, but have run into some first inning troubles as of late. They’ve scored just once in the first inning over the last six games. Let’s use that trend to get Kikuchi through that first inning.
In the bottom of the first, Casey Mize toes the rubber. Mize has been on fire for the Tigers, sporting a 2.12 ERA on the season. His strikeout numbers aren’t sensational, but you have to like how he’s been able to limit runs. In five starts this year, he’s allowed more than one earned run in just one start. The Angels don’t seem like the team that’s going to beat that trend. They started the year hot and have since fallen to 24th in MLB in runs scored. They’ve also scored just seven runs over their last four games, which makes me think they’ve come back to Earth.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for May 1: No (-125)
If you’d like even more info to help make your NRFI picks for May 1, check out the MLB Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar with their MLB picks today.
