Saturday MLB NRFI Bets: Sale and Cole Duel in the Bronx

The Saturday pitching matchups are elite. The best combination takes place right away on Saturday as Chris Sale faces Gerrit Cole in the Bronx.

I have NRFI plays for Saturday, including Braves vs. Yankees, and a strong NRFI bet.

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

Best NRFI Bets for Saturday, August 8

Odds for today's NRFIs are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Sign up for a DraftKings account today and claim your welcome bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly. More info on this offer can be found in our detailed DraftKings Sportsbook review.

If you are in a state where DraftKings Sportsbook is not yet legal, we recommend trying Kalshi, one of the best prediction markets in the US. Use Kalshi promo code WSN to sign up, trade $25, and get up to $500.

Braves vs. Yankees – Chris Sale vs. Gerrit Cole (3:05 PM EST)

The New York Yankees have been caught by the Boston Red Sox for the first Wild Card spot. With how Boston has played, it'll be very tough for New York to hold their spot. Therefore, they must win a crucial game against the Braves.

Pick: Under 0.5 Run (-125)

This is the best pitching matchup on Saturday, especially with Chris Sale taking the ball for Atlanta. Sale enters the game at 12-6 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 117 innings, while striking out 143 batters and walking just 26.

That combination of strikeout ability and limiting baserunners is exactly what we want to see when betting on a scoreless first inning. Sale has also allowed only eight home runs all season, giving the Yankees another reason to have a difficult time doing damage immediately.

Gerrit Cole has been solid as well. He is 5-5 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP through 73.2 innings, with 78 strikeouts and 17 walks.

The Yankees and Braves both have plenty of power, but this matchup is much more about the pitchers than the offenses. 

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly at DraftKings

Orioles vs. Rangers – Kyle Bradish vs. Jacob deGrom (7:15 PM EST)

The Baltimore Orioles are rebuilding for the future. They have been competitive after selling their stars, but they should struggle on Saturday against the Rangers.

Pick: Under 0.5 Run (-125)

Kyle Bradish is a reliable pitcher against limited offenses. Bradish is 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP entering Saturday's matchup.

He has been able to keep his ERA below four despite allowing plenty of traffic, and the Rangers now have to deal with an experienced starter who can work through the top of the order.

Jacob deGrom gets the ball for Texas and has a 7-7 record with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The right-hander has also racked up 135 strikeouts this season.

That strikeout total is important for this bet because deGrom can overpower hitters when he gets ahead in the count, leading to clean innings. 

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly

Rays vs. Mariners – Griffin Jax vs. George Kirby (9:50 PM EST)

The Tampa Bay Rays have the Red Sox closing in on first place in the American League East. They're still a few games behind, but the division is by no means in the bag. This makes every game against Seattle critical.

Pick: Under 0.5 Run (-125)

Griffin Jax has put together a solid season for Tampa Bay, entering Saturday at 6-9 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has also struck out 100 hitters over 91.2 innings.

George Kirby has similar numbers, sitting at 8-9 with a 3.76 ERA. His 1.28 WHIP gives Seattle a reliable starter who has limited the amount of damage opposing lineups can create.

This is another matchup where neither offense gets an obvious advantage against the starting pitching. Jax has enough strikeout ability to get out of trouble, while Kirby has the command to attack hitters early and avoid putting unnecessary runners on base.

Bet $5 at DraftKings and Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly

Best YRFI Bet

Rockies vs. Cardinals – Kyle Freeland vs. Matthew Liberatore: This is the YRFI I like most on Saturday. Freeland enters with a 3-10 record, a 6.81 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP, while Liberatore is at 5-8 with a 4.97 ERA. With both pitchers carrying ERAs near or above five, there is plenty of potential for an early run.