Best NRFI Bets Today: Offenses Expected to Start Slow

The second-half of the 2025 MLB season is officially here and I have two NRFI bets for Friday's slate. Offenses tend to start slow after the All-Star break and I plan on taking advantage of that with these wagers.

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Red Sox vs. Cubs - Lucas Giolito vs. Colin Rea (2:20 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-115) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The Red Sox were the hottest team in baseball to end the first-half of the season and they’ll look to pick up where they left off last week. Lucas Giolito will start against Colin Rea.

Chicago also had an impressive first half entering this matchup at 57-39 with a comfortable lead in the NL Central.

Giolito has exceeded expectations in Boston as he is 6-1 with a 3.36 ERA. He has started 13 games this season and has struck out 64 batters in 72.1 innings.

In Giolito’s last start before the break he pitched six scoreless innings allowing just four hits against Colorado.

Rea enters this contest with a 7-3 record with a 3.91 ERA. Like Giolito, Rea isn’t a strikeout pitcher as he records most of his outs by contact with the ball being put in play.

Rea was also dominant in his last start before the All-Star break, pitching seven innings allowing one earned run against Minnesota.

I have selected this NRFI because both starting pitchers aren’t overpowering but they pitch to contact and limit walks. This is critical against two high powered offenses.

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Reds vs. Mets - Nick Lodolo vs. Sean Manaea (7:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-135) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The second NRFI I’m going with is in the Reds vs. Mets game. Nick Lodolo will toe the rubber for Cincinnati against Sean Manaea and New York.

Lodolo has been average as he is 6-6 with a 3.38 ERA, but I see him dominating the second-half of the season especially after his last couple starts.

Lodolo has pitched 106.2 innings this season and has a 1.11 WHIP. He will make his 20th start on Friday so the Reds are using him a lot and he must stay healthy.

The Mets will counter with Manaea who is coming off an injury. He made his first appearance this season right before the break and he looked dominant.

In Manaea’s first outing of the year he pitched 3.1 innings and had seven strikeouts against Kansas City. I expect him to be fired up to get back on the field and deliver for us in the first inning.

It’s always hard as a hitter to come back after a long breakf. This is the reason why we’ve entered one of the best NRFI days of the season.

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• White Sox vs. Pirates - Jonathan Cannon vs. Bailey Falter:  These pitchers have a combined record of 9-11 and both allow a ton of hard hit balls. The total is set at 8.5 and I expect to see a ton of runs. 

• Giants vs Blue Jays - Justin Verlander vs. Chris Bassitt:  Verlander is still winless on the year with a 4.70 ERA, and Bassitt has a 4.12 ERA in 2025. Both pitchers have struggled with walks.

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