Best NRFI Bets Today, August 29

On Tuesday, there are several elite pitching matchups on the MLB schedule, some of which carry major postseason implications. From an all-Florida matchup to several division rivalry games, there is a lot to like in the NRFI market for today’s action. Here, we break down the top first-inning total plays for the day.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins - Aaron Civale (R) vs Sandy Alcantara (R) 

Under 0.5 (-146 at FanDuel)

First up on the NRFI market for Tuesday is the interleague matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins. This game features a couple of starting pitchers worth backing to hang up zeroes in the opening inning of play. Even with Sandy Alcantara struggling relative to his normal standards this season, look for the first inning to go scoreless in this matchup of Floridian postseason contenders.

This season, Alcantara has gone just 6-11 with a 4.11 ERA in his 171 innings of work on the season. But Alcantara’s ceiling is high, as his best stuff is still more than enough to throw shutout innings on a regular basis. Expect his best stuff to come early in this game, which will help the Marlins to hold the Rays without any runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Meanwhile, the Rays have made a brilliant acquisition in bringing Aaron Civale in from the Cleveland Guardians. Civale is 6-3 this season with a 2.59 ERA, and he has been excellent as a member of the Rays pitching staff so far. Look for that to continue, as we should get another scoreless frame from Civale to help this bet hit.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs - Corbin Burnes (R) vs Justin Steele (L)

Under 0.5 (-165 at PointsBet)

In the NL Central, both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are currently holding postseason positions. Milwaukee is holding the top spot in the NL Central, while the Chicago Cubs are holding onto one of the three NL Wild Card spots going into Tuesday’s play. With both of these teams sending their aces to the mound for this division matchup, look for a scoreless first inning to unfold.

Milwaukee is leaning on Corbin Burnes for this game, who enters with a 9-6 record and a 3.65 ERA to go along with it. Meanwhile, the Cubs are sending Justin Steele to the hill, who enters this contest with a 14-3 record and a 2.80 ERA in his 138 innings on the mound. Both of these pitchers have carried their respective teams at different points in this season, and we should expect scoreless opening innings from both of them.

Along with the strong pitching matchup for this contest, the offenses of these teams leave something to be desired. That is especially true of Milwaukee, who ranks in the bottom half of the league in terms of runs scored this season. Look for both offenses to struggle to handle the elite pitching on both sides in the first inning of this game, en route to another NRFI winner on Tuesday.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers - Merrill Kelly (R) vs Clayton Kershaw (L)

Under 0.5 (+105 at DraftKings)

Our final NRFI bet for Tuesday comes in another division matchup, as the NL West will take center stage in Los Angeles. There, the Arizona Diamondbacks will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers have just about run away with the NL West title, we should see both of these teams hang zeroes on the scoreboard in the first inning, with another great pitching matchup helping us get there.

Arizona is sending Merrill Kelly to the mound for this contest, who has been their second-best arm behind Zac Gallen. Kelly is 10-5 with a 2.97 ERA for the season, providing Arizona with a solid second starter. While Kelly does have to face a formidable Dodgers lineup in this contest, Kelly certainly has the ability to deliver a scoreless inning to start this one.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw on the mound, who is aiming to find his best stuff on the mound with the playoffs looming. Kershaw is 11-4 with a 2.52 ERA this season and has avoided the clutches of Father Time so far this year. He will continue to do so in the first inning of this game to close our night out from an NRFI perspective.

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