Best NRFI Bets Today: Max Fried Takes the Ball

Max Fried will take the mound for the Yankees against Sonny Gray and the Cardinals on Saturday. This NRFI wager has a lot of value, and it’s on my card for today.

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Yankees vs. Cardinals - Max Fried vs. Sonny Gray (7:15 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-140) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

Max Fried has been as dominant as any pitcher in the American League this year and he will toe the rubber on Saturday for New York. St. Louis will counter with Sonny Gray who is also having a great season.

Fried enters this game with a 12-5 record and a 2.94 ERA. He has been the Yankees' ace in 2025. 

His strikeout numbers are impressive as he has fanned 135 batters this season. The Cardinals' offense has cooled off as of late, so Fried should go deep into this game and dominate. 

Gray comes into this matchup with an 11-5 record and a 4.06 ERA. He has been one of the few positives for St. Louis. 

Gray has struck out 148 batters in 135.1 innings and has a 1.15 WHIP. In his last two starts he has pitched 14 innings while allowing just two runs.

Both offenses have been average at the plate and I think this will be a low-scoring affair. The bullpens aren’t the greatest so both managers should let the starters go deep into the game especially if they are cruising in the early innings. 

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Brewers vs. Reds - Quinn Priester vs. Zack Littell (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-120) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The second NRFI I’m taking features two NL Central teams in the Brewers and Reds. Milwaukee has been the best team in the league and a big part of their success is because of their pitchers. 

The Brewers will start Quinn Priester who is 11-2 with a 3.49 ERA. Priester has one of the best records in baseball and I expect him to dominate Cincinnati. 

Priester has struck out 95 batters in 118.2 innings and has a 1.24 WHIP. He is a great pitch-to-contact arm and he barely walks any hitters. 

Zack Littell will get the ball for the Reds and he has been inconsistent in 2025, but I trust him on Saturday. He is 9-8 with a 3.60 ERA. 

Littell is coming off a rough performance, so he should be focused against Milwaukee. If Littell gets ahead in the count and changes speeds, he should have a strong first inning. 

There are some good hitters at the top of both lineups so the starters will have to come out on fire. Yet, I do trust both pitchers to start hot in the first inning. 

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• Orioles vs. Astros - Cade Povich vs. Jason Alexander: Both pitching staffs have posted rough years, but there is plenty of talent on offense. I expect there to be a ton of runs in this matchup. 

• Diamondbacks vs. Rockies - Ryne Nelson vs. Chase Dollander: Dollander is 2-9 with a 6.35 ERA, and these teams score a lot of runs every time they battle.

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