We had a split of our plays on Thursday, moving to 8-4 over the last week. Now we have some NRFI bets for April 3.
The data is starting to come into clear with a week of baseball on the table and there’s no time better than now to attack it. We have NRFI and YRFI props for April 3. Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks – April 3
San Diego Padres vs. Boston Red Sox
First Pitch – 2:10 pm EST
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
Broadcast – MLB TV
Both of these teams have been lame with the bats for the first week of the season. The Red Sox are one of just three teams scoring less than three runs per game. It’s not like the Padres are blowing that number out of the water – sitting at 3.17 per game (good enough for 25th). In addition to struggling across the full game, both have particularly struggled in the first inning. Over the first six games, each team has scored just one first inning run. You have to like the setup of this one with how futile the offenses have been.
However, this pick isn’t just based on the bad offenses. There is a lot to like about this pitching matchup as well. Sonny Gray may have had a rough start to the season, but in that start he settled in nicely. He looked not to have his best stuff for the first inning or two, but then returned to the guy who ripped off back-to-back 200+ strikeout seasons. On the other side of the equation is Michael King. The Padres starter did, in fact, come out of the gate hot this season. He threw 5.0 scoreless against the Tigers, striking out six and only allowing a single hit. With as good as he looked and as bad as the Red Sox are hitting, he should close this NRFI sweat-free.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for April 3: No (-130)
Houston Astros vs. Athletics
First Pitch – 9:40 pm EST
Sutter Health Park – Sacramento, CA
Broadcast – MLB TV
The top of the first in this nightcap might be a bit of a sweat. The Astros currently sit second in the league in terms of runs per game. They’ve already knocked in 45 runs in seven games, but there’s still a reason to like the NRFI here. Firstly, while they’ve been hot, they are just 4-3 scoring in the first inning. Furthermore, three of those hits were against the Red Sox, who were struggling with arms. The other reason I like the top of the first to stay clean is Jeffery Springs. He dealt against a tough Blue Jays lineup and kept them quiet for each of the first two innings. I think he can start with another clean one here.
The bottom of the first should be much easier to cash. The Atheltics are one of just four teams that are yet to score a first inning run on the season. That shouldn’t be much easier with Cristian Javier on the mound. While he had some issues in his season debut, that could be expected following the shortened year he had in 2025. Still, he gave us two scoreless to start that outing and should be able to replicate that here against a struggling Athletics lineup.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for April 3: No (+120)
If you’d like even more info to help make your NRFI and YRFI picks for April 3, 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.
