The Red Sox and Yankees were slow to the plate again on Sunday and that helped us cash another NRFI. We’ll look to bring that success into a fresh week on Monday. We have some NRFI bets for August 31.
Monday is usually a rest day, but we still have 24 teams in action. We combed through all of those games to find you the very best spots. Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
CHECK OUT THE SPORTS GAMBLING PODCAST’S DAILY BEST BETS
MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks – August 31
Seattle Mariners vs. Boston Red Sox
First Pitch – 6:45 pm EST
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
Broadcast – MLB TV
Payton Tolle is the first to toe the rubber in Fenway for this East coast vs West coast series. He’s coming off of one of his very best months of the year. In August, he posted a 2.37 ERA with 38 strikeouts in just 30.1 innings. He never allowed more than three earned runs in a start and allowed two or less in four of his five starts. He draws the Mariners at the perfect time. They have been a wreck at the plate this year and especially lately. Not only do they rank dead last in the league in runs per game, but they also have scored just four total runs in their last four games.
The Red Sox aren’t much hotter than that at the current moment. They’ve scored just nine total runs over their last five games for a 1.75 per game average. They’ve been held to two or less runs in four of those five games. That’s good news for George Kirby, who has had a bit of an up and down season. Despite the rockiness, he still enters Monday with a 4.02 ERA and is fresh off a nine-strikeout game against the Phillies. With the Red Sox hitting as bad as they are, he should be able to get this game started without any damage.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for August 31: No (-145)
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
First Pitch – 9:40 pm EST
Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ
Broadcast – ESPN
Despite being winners of four of their last five games, the Phillies aren’t really tearing the cover off of the ball. They have just 21 runs in that span (or 4.20 runs per game). Two of those runs came in extra innings as well, which would put them under four runs per game if we’re just looking at regulation runs. In addition, they’ve scored just once in the first inning across that span and have to face Brandon Pfaadt here. Pfaadt put up a 2.45 ERA in the month of August and only allowed one first inning run in five starts. He should be able to put up a zero here for us.
To close out the nightcap, we’ll lean on Aaron Nola. He’s another pitcher with questionable numbers over the course of the year, but a really sharp August. He has a 2.79 ERA in the month and has struck out 11.48 batters per nine innings. Arizona has been slightly below average all year with the bats and more importantly have been bad in the first inning. They rank 26th in first inning scoring this year and Nola should be able to add to those woes.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for August 31: No (-125)
Bonus Pick: Tigers/Twins NRFI (-120)
Looking to put together a three-pick parlay? This extra play may just be the piece that you’re looking for. Throw it together with the other two to net a three-pick parlay for +457.
If you’d like even more info to help make your NRFI and YRFI picks for August 31, 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.
