Best NRFI Bets Today: Division Rivalries Offer Great Bets

Saturday doesn’t have many great NRFI bets on the table, but there are two we love. The first involves an NL Central battle between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. The other is an AL West matchup as the Texas Rangers visit the Seattle Mariners.

Below, we’ll discuss our two favorite NRFY bets.  We’ll use odds from BetMGM Sportsbook, which gives new players who sign up using promo code WSMGM a $1,500 First Bet Offer.

For more betting opportunities, check out our list of the best MLB betting sites and our curated list of MLB promos and bonuses.

Best NRFI Bets Today: Cardinals vs. Cubs (2:20 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (-125 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Few lineups have disappointed more than the Chicago Cubs. Injuries took a toll, but the team has struggled even as it gets healthy. There is no question that the Cubs have some dangerous bats, but we haven’t seen them put it together. Things have been getting better lately, with the team posting a .230 average in June. While Chicago will have an easier test on the mound today, we don’t expect to see any early fireworks.

The Cardinals will be starting Andre Pallante (4-1, 4.88 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). The 25-year-old reliever has been forced into a starting role, but the results have been mixed. He was hit hard by the Astros to begin June, but he was stellar in the start before and after that outing, combined to throw 11 scoreless innings. Considering that most of Pallante’s problems have come the second time through the lineup, where opponents are hitting .345 against him.

The Cubs will have ace Shota Imanaga (6-1, 1.96 ERA) on the mound today. Aside from an ugly outing in Milwaukee, the lefty has been nearly unhittable. While the Cardinals' lineup has been improving, they’ll be facing Imanaga for the first time. Considering that opponents are hitting just .152 against the Cubs starter the first time they see him, we don’t expect much from the Cardinals in the first inning.

Bet on 1st Inning Under 0.5 Runs (-125) at BetMGM

Best NRFI Bets Today: Rangers vs. Mariners (7:15 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Runs (-145 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

We expected Seattle’s lineup to struggle, but seeing the powerful Rangers stumble in 2024 has been stunning. They rank fifteenth in the league in both runs scored and batting average, far below where they were during last season’s run to the World Series. While they hope Corey Seager heating up will help, the shortstop is dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that has cost him time in the past, including last season.

The Rangers lineup will have their hands full with George Kirby (5-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) on the mound for the Mariners. The righty has been hit-or-miss this season but has delivered three straight impressive outings. One came against an elite Astros lineup, with Kirby holding them to one run over six innings. The Mariners starter dominated the Rangers in 2023, delivering 13 scoreless innings across two starts. We love his chances to keep that scoreless streak going for at least one more inning.

Veteran Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 2.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) will be on the hill for the Rangers tonight. The 24-year-old recently returned from an injury and has looked fantastic. In his previous start, Eovaldi held the Giants to just two runs on five hits over seven innings. With the Mariners ranking twenty-fourth in runs scored and twenty-eighth in batting average, we expect the Rangers starter to deliver another impressive outing tonight.  

Bet on 1st Inning Under 0.5 Runs (-145) at BetMGM

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