Best NRFI Bets Today: Great Pitchers Highlight Friday’s Slate

Friday features some of the best pitching matchups we’ve seen all season. Both Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes will take the ball, and I’ve targeted a NRFI in each game.

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Mariners vs. Tigers - Luis Castillo vs. Tarik Skubal (7:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-165) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

Tarik Skubal has been a top pitcher in the league all season. He has catapulted Detroit to the best record in baseball. 

Skubal is currently the heavy favorite to win the AL Cy Young award at -420 on Hard Rock Sportsbook. He enters this contest with a 10-2 record and an ERA of 2.02. 

Skubal separates himself from the league because of his ability to rack up the strikeouts while staying ahead in the count. He has fanned 148 batters in 116 innings which is the second most in baseball. 

Luis Castillo is no stranger to facing top pitchers as the veteran has been in this spot plenty of times. The 32 year old is 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 2025. 

In Castillo’s last two starts, he has pitched 13 innings, allowing one run on 12 strikeouts. He has 87 strikeouts in 103.1 innings and has a 1.22 WHIP. 

I expect the game total to stay low as the offenses will take awhile to figure out Skubal and Castillo.

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Pirates vs. Twins - Paul Skenes vs. Joe Ryan (8:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-175) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The second NRFI I’m taking on Friday is in the Pirates vs. Twins matchup. Pittsburgh will start one of the best young arms in baseball in Paul Skenes against Joe Ryan and Minnesota.

Skenes enters this matchup with a 1.94 ERA which is the best in baseball. He has electric strikeout ability as he has fanned 125 batters in 116 innings and I expect more in this game.

We haven't seen a pitcher dominate MLB in their first two seasons like Skenes. His ability to work out of big innings is very rare and also essential when betting on a NRFI.

Minnesota will counter with Ryan who is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 2025. He is also a significant strikeout pitcher with 116 strikeouts in 104.1 innings.

A pitcher’s WHIP is very important to look at when betting NRFI’s because it tells us if the pitcher limits baserunners. Ryan does an outstanding job of keeping the bases clear.

I trust Skenes and Ryan to take two struggling offenses even more uncomfortable, especially in the first inning.

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• Rockies vs. Reds - German Marquez vs. Chase Burns:  Both starters have ERAs north of 5.00 and Burns is still a young arm making his fourth start in the league. There should be plenty of offense in this contest.

• Blue Jays vs Athletics - Max Scherzer vs. Luis Severino:  Both offenses have been very impressive in 2025 and this pitching matchup is ideal for the YRFI. Severino is 2-10 with a 5.3 ERA this season.

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