Best NRFI Bets Today: Paul Skenes Takes the Mound in Boston

The Red Sox are riding a four game winning streak, but it could come to an end with Paul Skenes on the mound. This should be a low scoring game with the starting pitchers dominating early.

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Pirates vs. Red Sox - Paul Skenes vs. Payton Tolle (7:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-155) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

Paul Skenes has only allowed a run in the first inning once this season. When he is on the mound, NRFI betting is hard to resist for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The Pirates offense has been below average this season, so they typically don’t score much in the first inning. When you combine this fact with Skenes, it has led to successful NRFI betting. 

Skenes is just 8-9 this season, which shows how bad the Pirates offense has been in 2025. Skenes will win the National League Cy Young and he has under a .500 record. 

The pitcher has a 2.07 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. He has allowed just 114 hits in 161 innings with 181 strikeouts. 

The Red Sox offense has some dangerous hitters at the top of the order like Roman Anthony, but Skenes should roll his competition. Payton Tolle will make his MLB debut for Boston. 

Tolle is 3-5 with a 3.04 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 91.2 innings. The Pirates are a perfect team to make a debut against because they are inconsistent at the plate. 

Tolle making his debut makes the NRFI slightly risky, but I trust him to deliver early in the game. If Tolle gets through the top half of the inning, Skenes should shut the door in the bottom of the first.

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Orioles vs. Giants - Dean Kremer vs. Robbie Ray (10:10 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-135) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The second NRFI wager I’m targeting is in Orioles vs Giants game. The Baltimore Orioles offense was very quiet this past week against the Boston Red Sox.

It will be hard for them to get back on track Friday night. They had to fly across the country and will face a strong pitcher in Robbie Ray.

Ray has a lot of power on the mound with a solid offspeed arsenal. Ray is 10-6 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

The pitcher has recorded approximately one strike per inning, and I’m expecting him to continue this pace against the Orioles. Dean Kremer will throw for Baltimore, and he is 9-9 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

Kremer hasn’t been great this season, but he’s good enough to get three outs in the bottom of the first. The Giants offense has been horrendous this season, and even the trade for Rafael Devers didn’t spark their offense. 

The Giants rank 25th in baseball in runs scored, while Baltimore is 19th. The pitchers for both sides have been more consistent than the offenses, which is why I’m leaning into the NRFI.

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• Rangers vs. Athletics - Jack Leiter vs. Jeffrey Springs: The pitching and field dimensions should lead to early runs in Sacramento. 

• Cubs vs Rockies - Cade Horton vs. German Marquez: German Marquez has a 5.67 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP which isn’t good in Colorado.

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