Best NRFI Bets Today: Sonny Gray Looks to Respond

Sonny Gray started the season poorly for the Red Sox, but he has a chance to respond in the Red Sox home opener. Boston and San Diego is one of my best NRFI bets of the day, but I have two other picks on FanDuel Sportsbook.

I have targeted three NRFI bets that I’m placing on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Looking for more MLB betting insights? Check our selection of the Best MLB Home Run Props Today.

Best NRFI Bets for Friday, April 3

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Cardinals vs. Tigers - Michael McGreevy vs. Framber Valdez (1:10 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-128) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Michael McGreevy will throw for the Cardinals against Framber Valdez and the Tigers. 

Valdez is the anchor of this NRFI play. He is one of the best ground-ball pitchers in baseball, using his heavy sinker to induce weak contact and avoid extra-base hits. 

He was dominant for the Astros for years, and now his time in Detroit is off to a great start. He has a 1.5 ERA and five strikeouts to open the season. 

McGreevy may not have the same level of dominance, but he has shown solid command and an ability to keep hitters off balance.

The pitcher only allowed no hits in six innings in his first start of the year. 

The Tigers rely more on manufacturing runs than quick power bursts, while the Cardinals often need multiple hitters to string together quality at-bats. The pitching and offensive combination is perfect for a NRFI.

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Red Sox vs. Padres - Sonny Gray vs. Michael King (2:10 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-128) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Boston Red Sox will host the San Diego Padres in the opener at Fenway Park. 

Sonny Gray was very reliable last season, but he was terrible to open the year against the Reds. He typically does a great job limiting hard contact, which is critical in the first inning when pitchers are focused on efficiency and avoiding traffic.

Even though Gray is off to a rough start, I still trust him to get back on track against the Padres. 

Michael King has transitioned into a starting role extremely well. He opened the season in dominant fashion, and has been one of the best parts of the roster.

King has a 0 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in five innings. 

Both lineups have upside, but neither is known for consistently explosive starts. This is clear by their records to open the 2026 slate. 

With two pitchers capable of missing bats and limiting damage, this game sets up well for a scoreless first inning.

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Mets vs. Giants - Nolan McLean vs. Tyler Mahle (10:10 PM EST)

Under 0.5 Run (-136) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The New York Mets take on the San Francisco Giants in a matchup featuring Nolan McLean and Tyler Mahle.

McLean is an intriguing arm with electric stuff, and while he may not have the same track record as some established starters, he has a ton of potential. 

He was great for the Mets last season in limited action, and looked strong in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA. 

When Mahle is healthy, he has shown the ability to generate strikeouts and limit hard contact. His fastball-slider combination allows him to attack hitters aggressively, which is exactly what you want in a first-inning NRFI spot.

The New York Mets have so many stars, but they have underperformed. If Mahle can work around Juan Soto, there shouldn’t be any surprises in the inning. 

I trust McLean even more than Mahle based on how reliable he has been in his time in the big leagues. 

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