Best NRFI Bets Today: NL Central Features Great Friday Pitching Matchups

The MLB slate is loaded on Friday and I have selected two NL Central games for NRFI bets. The Cubs take on the Reds, and Milwaukee plays St. Louis.

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Cubs vs. Reds - Shota Imanaga vs. Nick Lodolo (6:40 PM, EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-130) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

Chicago has officially clinched a postseason berth and they are only trailing Milwaukee by five games in the division. If the Cubs heat up at the right time, they can still win the NL Central. 

Chicago plays Cincinnati on Friday in a matchup featuring Shota Imanaga vs Nick Lodolo. The Reds are 76-76 in third place in this division. 

Imanaga enters this contest at 9-7 with a 3.29 ERA in 134 innings. He has fanned 110 batters and has a WHIP of 0.95. 

In each of Imanaga’s last three starts he has allowed three runs per game. We need him to keep the strikeout numbers high and limit the walks to cash this NRFI. 

Lodolo is 8-8 with a 3.30 ERA, and he’s coming off a rough start against the Athletics. Even with this bad start, Lodolo has always bounced back with a vengeance and I expect to happen once again. 

Lodolo has struck out 137 batters in 144.2 innings which is why he’s a great NRFI pitcher to target. He does a great job of escaping big innings with his strikeout ability. 

These offenses rank in the middle of the league in team batting average, so the pitchers should find success. These division games are typically low-scoring, and I trust Imanaga and Lodolo to get the job done.

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Brewers vs. Cardinals - Jacob Misiorowski vs. Sonny Gray (8:15 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-110) at Hard Rock Sportsbook

The second NRFI I’m taking is in the Brewers vs Cardinals game. Milwaukee is one of the best teams in the league and St. Louis has their ace pitcher starting.

Jacob Misiorowski will go against Sonny Gray, and this might be the best pitching matchup of the day. Both pitchers have high-powered arms and rely on strikeouts which is essential for a NRFI wager. 

Misiorowski enters this game with a record of 5-2 and a 4.35 ERA. He’s one of the best young arms that has taken over the league.

In 60 innings, Misiorowski has struck out 81 batters and has a WHIP of 1.13. His last start was against the Cardinals, so he knows how to attack the divisional foe.

At age 35, Gray is still dominating opposing lineups. He has fanned 187 batters in 168.2 innings, and had eight strikeouts against the Brewers in his last start.

Gray will have a longer leash in this matchup simply because the Cardinals are basically out of the postseason race.

Milwaukee has the second best team batting average in baseball, but Gray is up for the challenge.

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Best YRFI Bets Today

• Padres vs. White Sox - Dylan Cease vs. Davis Martin: These pitchers have a combined record of 14-21 and have been extremely inconsistent. San Diego has the eighth best offense in baseball so I expect them to strike early. 

• Braves vs. Tigers - Bryce Elder vs. Charlie Morton: These starters have ERAs north of 5.00, and both offenses are solid. This could be the highest scoring game on the slate.

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