Today we bring you NRFI's predictions for the first and last MLB games. The Cubs and Pirates will meet for NRFI today around noon ET with Paul Skenes taking the mound. The games after that will see them miss out on their two struggling aces.
Check out today's NRFI picks!
NRFI Today's Prediction: Cubs vs Pirates (-125)
Cubs vs. Pirates — Game Time: 12:35 PM ET
This is a fortunate matchup between two of baseball's most reliable NRFI clubs, the Cubs (82-51 NRFI) and the Pirates (80-52 NRFI). And the secret to each team's NRFI dominance is pretty simple, so let me show you. First, Chicago and Pittsburgh have awful first inning offense, batting .222 and .206, respectively. After that, they need to get their first inning pitching good. The Cubs have the best first inning pitching in baseball, with a team ERA of 2.57. The Buccaneers are less reliable, with an ERA of 4.09, but still a respectable 13th in the entire MLB.
Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't be outlining this matchup if the starting pitching wasn't favorable for NRFI. The pitcher for Chicago is Kyle Hendricks, who will be looking to make his eighth consecutive NRFI appearance. Hendricks is 16-2 in NRFI this season and has a good record against the Pirates' top batting lineup. Bryan Reynolds, for example, is 7-for-36 against Hendricks for a .194 batting average and a .633 OPS.
And Pittsburgh's starting pitcher is Paul Skenes (13-4, NRFI), who is looking to edge out the Padres' Jackson Merrill for the NL Rookie of the Year award. I'm confident he can shut out Chicago. First, he has a 2.12 ERA in his first innings this year, and second, active Cubs batters have only allowed 3 hits in 26 at-bats against him. Even if the Pirates lose, Skenes will have plenty of opportunities to pitch, which increases his chances of winning the NRFI today.
YRFI Today's Prediction: Orioles vs Dodgers (-115)
Orioles vs Dodgers – Game Time: 10:10 PM ET
Three years ago, betting on YRFI on a game with Corbin Burnes and Walker Buehler starting would have been foolhardy, but times have changed. First off, Buehler (5-5 YRFI) has had a terrible season, and even worse in the first inning. In 10 starts this year, he has given up 11 runs in the first inning with a 9.90 ERA. Buehler has walked eight and struck out just seven, while opposing batters are batting .395/.491/.674 in the first inning. The Dodgers right-hander has struggled to stay in form, and now he faces the Orioles, who have an .847 first inning OPS over the past 30 days.
Meanwhile, Barnes has had a great first innings performance and a 20-6 NRFI record, but there are concerns about his recent performance. The Orioles ace is pitching his worst of the season, giving up 20 runs (8.71 ERA) in his final 20.2 innings. Barnes will now face the Dodgers, who have a first innings OPS of .852, third in the MLB, and a YRFI of 70-62, which puts them in the top three in that category.
