Best NRFI Bets Today: Dominant Performance Expected From Shota Imanaga Against the Pirates

With the Pittsburgh Pirates offense ranking below league average in all key batting metrics, the Chicago Cubs NL Cy Young contender Shota Imanaga has the opportunity to string together a dominant performance on Tuesday night. Later in the night, we turn our attention towards the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros in an AL showdown as a pair of productive arms are set to take the mound.

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Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - Shota Imanaga vs. Andrew Heaney (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-115) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Shota Imanaga has been a consistent source of production for the Chicago Cubs since the start of the regular season as the NL Cy Young contender is currently averaging less than one Hit Against per Inning Pitched, an ERA of 3.18, and a WHIP of 1.088. Even with Imanaga struggling to generate Strikeouts at a high rate, the Cubs pitcher has been able keep opposing runners off the bases as his low WHIP specifies by putting batters in low quality contact situations.

Against Pittsburgh, expect Imanaga to sustain his high level of play as he faces off against a Pirates offense who ranks near the bottom of the board in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and in On Base Percentage. Especially with the top of their order struggling to make contact at a competitive rate as the Pirates top three enter the contest averaging less than one Hit per game while only Oneil Cruz possesses an OPS higher than 0.900.

On the other side of the field, negative regression looms large over the Chicago Cubs red hot offense as they are set to face off against Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney who excels at avoiding contact. As of writing, Heaney currently leads the NL in WHIP while averaging just 0.58 Hits Against per Inning Pitched. Even with his back end grading out poorly in Defensive Efficiency, Heaney is able to mask their struggles on defense as his FIP of 2.25 indicates.

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Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros - Reese Olson vs. Ryan Gusto (8:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-125) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Heading into the year, the Detroit Tigers were expected to take a step forward as an actual contender for the AL Central division title due to their deep pitching rotation. Reese Olson has played a major role in their success so far this season as the Tigers pitcher is averaging an ERA of 3.29 and a FIP of 3.12. Olson also receives a high level of support from his back end as the Tigers defense currently ranks second overall in Defensive Efficiency.

Olson will have the opportunity to put together another dominant performance against Houston as he faces off against an Astros offense who struggles to make contact at a league average rate. After their MVP contender Kyle Tucker signed with the Cubs in the offseason, the Astros level of production on offense has drastically declined as their lineup currently ranks below league average in Team Total Hits, RBIs, Total Runs Scored, and in On Base Percentage.

While the Astros offense has struggled, the Tigers have thrived as they rank above league average in the same previously mentioned metrics. Unfortunately for Detroit, their offense will struggle to sustain their high level of play as they are set to face off against Ryan Gusto who excels at keeping opposing runners out of scoring position. In his seven outings, Gusto is averaging less than one Hit Against per Inning Pitched and an ERA of 2.78.

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians - Chris Paddack vs. Tanner Bibee - The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians struggling offenses are in a favorable position to round back into form in a divisional matchup as they face off against a pair of pitchers who currently average more than one Hit Against per Inning Pitched and a WHIP higher than 1.400.

• St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds - Miles Mikolas vs. Brady Singer - Expect the Cincinnati Reds offense to carry over their momentum into their matchup against St. Louis as the top of their order gets the benefit of swinging against Miles Mikolas who averages over 1.5 runners on base per inning and an ERA of 5.70.

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