Best NRFI Bets Today, May 26

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays - Noah Syndergaard (R) vs Jalen Beeks (L)

Over 0.5 (-125 at DraftKings)

Our first MLB NRFI bet of the day comes from Tampa Bay, where we like the YRFI side of the Friday night matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. Check out the best MLB betting sites and place your bet.

Both of these teams are sending less than their best to the mound in this contest, which should allow two of the most potent offenses in baseball to work their magic to score at least one run in the opening frame.

For the visiting Dodgers, Noah Syndergaard takes the mound, which has been bad news for the Dodgers, for the most part, this year. Syndergaard has an ERA just under 6.00 for the season, even though he has done a better job of late by allowing three or fewer runs in four straight outings. He will be threatened by a Rays team that ranks second behind the Texas Rangers in runs scored on the season.

Meanwhile, it is a bullpen day for the Rays in this contest, as they send Jalen Beeks to the mound to start this game. Tampa’s bullpen has been nightmarish this season, ranking in the bottom 10 in bullpen ERA and WAR. Expect the struggles of the Rays bullpen to last in this contest, as the Dodgers should be able to get out to a quick start against Beeks in this potential World Series preview.

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics - Hunter Brown (R) vs James Kaprielian (R)

Over 0.5 (-105 at FanDuel)

Our second first inning total wager of the day on Friday is also a YRFI pick, as we expect at least one run to come in during the first inning between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics. While the Astros are certainly the better team and the more likely squad to get on the board in their half of the first, it could be either team that breaks through and scores a run before the first six outs are recorded.

Houston’s offense should have a major advantage from the start of this game as they take on James Kaprielian of the A’s. Kaprielian is 0-4 with an 8.68 ERA this season, and he will be vulnerable from the first pitch of this game given his struggles to start the year. As he is likely to face several threatening bats like Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez to start this matchup, Houston could put up a crooked number in the first.

It is also worth noting that the A’s are not incapable of getting off to a fast start, even if they are one of the worst teams in baseball. They managed to score two runs in the first inning against Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night, despite the fact that the A’s failed to score a run for the final eight innings of that game. Here, the A’s or Astros will break through in the first, and Oakland could very well contribute to that.

New York Mets vs Colorado Rockies - Max Scherzer (R) vs Connor Seabold (R)

Under 0.5 (+115 at BetMGM)

Finally, we do like one NRFI selection in this Friday's MLB slate, as the New York Mets head to Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies. While this first inning total is heavily juiced to the over, we will go the opposite way and take the first inning under at plus money. A huge reason for that is the pitching matchup in this game, as the Mets send one of their aces to the mound in the Mile High City.

Max Scherzer will get the start for the Mets in this game, as he looks to continue to rebound from a slow start to the year. Scherzer’s ERA is just over 4.00 for the 2023 campaign, but he has allowed just one run in 11 innings of work over his last two starts. A scoreless first from Scherzer is to be expected against the lowly Rockies, even in the high altitude.

On the opposite side, Connor Seabold will have his hands full with the Mets lineup on Friday night. But the Mets are traveling in from Chicago after playing there last night, and that could have an adverse effect on their bats to help keep this game scoreless at the end of the first.

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