Best NRFI Bets Today, May 23

Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians - Dylan Cease (R) vs Logan Allen (L) 

Under 0.5 Runs - CHI vs CLE (-125 at DraftKings SportsBook)

Our first NRFI bet will come from Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians matchup. These teams are division rivals, but they are both underperforming. 

The White Sox are one of the most disappointing teams in the league and come into this game with a 19-30 record. Their lineup has been good at times, but their pitching staff and bullpen have been horrible. On the other side, the Guardians have the opposite problem. Their pitching staff and bullpen have held their own, but their lineup struggles to score. This will be a lower-scoring game and scoreless after the first inning. Bet on the NRFI.

Dylan Cease will take the hill for the White Sox. Cease was tremendous last year and ended the season with a 14-8 record and a 2.20 ERA. It was his first truly dominant season in the Major Leagues. 

However, he has not been able to replicate that success this year. Opposing players may have figured him out, which is causing him some major problems. He comes into this game with a 2-3 record, 4.78 ERA, and 1.39 WHIP. The righty had a 6.4 WAR last year and has a 0.2 WAR this year. There are worse starters in baseball, but it is safe to say that Cease is in the bottom half. With that being said, he has only given up a first-inning run once in his previous five starts. 

The 27-year-old will face a weak Guardians lineup today and get through the first inning easily.

Logan Allen will get the nod for the Guardians. Allen was called up in late April to make his season debut and has not disappointed thus far. The 24-year-old has started five games and has a 3.04 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. 

He is averaging less than six innings a start and is yet to give up more than three earned runs. Allen’s last start was against the White Sox. The Southpaw threw 5⅔ innings and only gave up one earned run on seven hits. Allen will have a similar outing today and get through the first inning with no problems. Bet on the NRFI. 

Oakland Athletics vs Seattle Mariners - Luis Medina (R) vs Marco Gonzales (L)

Over 0.5 Runs - OAK vs SEA (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

We will go from Cleveland to Seattle for our second NRFI bet of the day. This game is also a divisional battle but will not be too exciting. The Athletics are tanking and have the worst record in baseball, and the Mariners are sitting a game below .500 and are not as good as they were last season. Both teams are sending subpar pitchers to the mound, so a run will be scored. Bet on the YRFI.

Luis Medina will take the mound for the Athletics. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut on April 26 and struggled against the Los Angeles Angels. Garcia gave up eight runs (seven earned) in five innings. He has pitched well in his two starts since then, but he may have some trouble in the first inning today. Medina is a rookie and prone to make mistakes. He will figure out how to pitch at this level soon but will have some problems today.

Marco Gonzales will get the start for the Mariners. Gonzales has a winning record, but that is only because he receives a lot of run support. The lefty from Colorado has a 6.10 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. More importantly, he is coming off his worst start of the season against the Boston Red Sox. Gonzales only pitched 1⅔ innings and gave up eight earned runs off eight hits and two walks. That outing perfectly describes how up and down his season has been. The 31-year-old only gave up two earned runs in his start before that. He will face Brent Rooker in the first inning and may run into some problems. I would not be surprised if he gives up a run. Bet on the YRFI.

Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees - Kyle Bradish (R) vs Gerrit Cole (R) 

Under 0.5 Runs - BAL vs NYY (-125 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Our final NRFI bet will also be a divisional game. This one will be between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees. The Orioles are having a tremendous season, and the Yankees are beginning to hit their stride. Both of these teams have won four of their last five games. More importantly, they are both sending great pitchers to the mound, so there will be no first inning runs. Bet on the NRFI.

Kyle Bradish will take the hill for the Orioles. Bradish had one tough start last month against the Boston Red Sox last month but has been good otherwise. 

He has only given up four earned runs this month and has faced some tough lineups in the Braves, Pirates, and Angels. Bradish is hitting his stride as we speak, so I expect him to put together a solid outing. He will face some tough hitters in Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo in the first inning but will get through it.

Gerrit Cole will take the hill for the Yankees. Cole is having a phenomenal season and is in AL Cy Young contention. He comes into this game with a 5-0 record, 2.01 ERA, and 1.09 ERA. 

Cole is pitching deep into this game and averaging over six innings a start. The Orange County, CA native is coming off his strongest start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. He threw six scoreless innings and struck out six. Cole might be on his way to his season yet and has been a force from the mound. He will face the likes of Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutschman, and Anthony Santander in the first inning but will handle them with ease. Bet on the NRFI.

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