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 June 26.
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 June 26. Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks – June 26
Chicago cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals
First Pitch – 2:15 pm EST
Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO
Broadcast – MLB TV
Of all the half innings we’re targeting today, the top of the first in this one is definitely the sweatiest. The Cubs are one of the best teams in the league at scoring runs. The reason I still like an empty first frame is two-fold. Firstly, the Cubs are not nearly as good in the first inning as they are across the game. They rank outside of the top ten in first inning scoring. The other reason is that I trust Andre Pallante. Sure, his metrics are not phenomenal, but he’s been sharp in the first inning. In his last 14 starts, he’s only allowed a first inning run twice.
The bottom of the inning should be much easier. The first reason is just how bad the Cardinals have been in the first inning. They currently rank 29th in MLB in that metric (0.32 first inning runs per game). Things won’t get much easier when they look out to the mound on Thursday. Shota Imanaga returns from an early season hamstring injury that kept him out three weeks. Before that, he was on a roll – sporting a 2.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. He should have no problem blanking these Cardinals.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for June 26: No (-110)
Miami Marlins vs. San Francisco Giants
First Pitch – 3:45 pm EST
Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA
Broadcast –MLB TV
The top of the first sees Hayden Birdsong toe the rubber. He’s been solid this year for San Francisco with a 3.25 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 52.2 innings. He should have an easier time with the Marlins as they haven’t exactly been a run scoring machine. They are in the bottom third of the league in run scoring and scoring in the first inning – ranking 23rd in both of those categories. Birdsong should be able to keep that trend going on Thursday.
The bottom of the inning sees another pitcher with sneaky good stuff on the mound. Janson Junk got his first start of the year last week and should have earned himself a few more. He held the Braves to just one run over 5.0 innings, striking out five in the process. They helped to bring his ERA down to 2.60 this year. While that is a relatively small sample size, it helps me get there on the NRFI against the Giants – who are also not great in the first inning. They rank 20th in first inning scoring this season.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for June 26: No (-125)
If you’d like even more info to help make your NRFI and YRFI picks for June 26, 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.
