Best NRFI Bets Today: The Pitchers to Watch on Friday, July 26

Best NRFI Bets Today

It's a Friday, and what better ay to kickoff the weekend than with the most exciting bet in baseball -- No Runs in the First Inning?

(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

I'll be taking a look at a matchup in Toronto between two struggling offenses, which should bear fruit despite a less-than-exciting pitching matchup. Then, I'll look to two ground-ball arms before opting for a safe bet between two NRFI machines.

Let's get into those games and give out some MLB NRFI predictions for Friday, July 26.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Use DraftKings No Sweat Bet Promo on Diamondbacks vs Royals: Get up to $1,000 Bonus Bets

• Great range of different sports leagues
• Optimal in-play betting features
• Easy to use app with fast payouts

Bet $5 and Get $200in Bonus Bets Instantly!

Open DraftKings

MLB Betting Resources:

MLB Betting

MLB Odds

MLB Live Odds

MLB NRFI Prediction for Rangers vs Blue Jays

I never really expected to be talking about both Andrew Heaney and Yusei Kikuchi -- two pitchers I do not believe in -- performing well, but here we are.

As always, we aim to be objective and look at matchups on a case-by-case basis. In this one, Toronto enters ranked 26th in wRC+ to left-handed pitchers while the Rangers sit just 17th.

Neither team has been hitting particularly well all year to boot, and the biggest sore spot has been the lack of power from each.

Both pitchers here are most vulnerable to the longball with some poor batted-ball numbers and high fly ball rates, so that should make them much more comfortable to work in this game.

Heaney sits 14-5 to the NRFI, and Kikuchi 15-6. The only potential landmine is Texas' odd infatuation for scoring in the first, but with the matchup and Toronto's seventh-best NRFI record there should be more than enough reason to believe.

NRFI Prediction: Rangers vs Blue Jays NRFI (-125 at BetMGM)

Looking to bet this one as the action unfolds? Check out our MLB Live Betting Guide.

MLB NRFI Prediction for Cubs vs Royals

We've got a very weird one on our hands in Kansas City on Friday, where two pitchers who work to little fanfare will be in a unique spot to make us money, if we're to believe.

Kyle Hendricks enters this one with a pretty brutal 6.69 ERA, but the one thing that he's managed to do well is work his way through the top of the order.

• Hendricks enters Friday with a 2.08 ERA in the first inning this season, and the Cubs as a team sit 66-39 to the NRFI this season.
• On the other side of the coin, Brady Singer has been dominant in the first inning with a 2.25 ERA across 20 starts and his team is 59-44 to the NRFI.

I'm generally not as sour on Hendricks as most, given he can be effective in pitching to ground balls against a team which lacks power or overall talent.

The Royals are sporting just a 105 wRC+ this month with some big concerns at the top of the order around Bobby Witt, Jr. and should do their part after the struggling Cubs bat in the first.

Chicago is 20th in wRC+ this month and has been getting very little from the top of the lineup, with ground balls abound.

• This should play right into the hands of Singer, a big-time ground ball pitcher, and deliver us a NRFI.

NRFI Prediction: Cubs vs Royals NRFI (-110 at DraftKings)

Not sure where to place your bet? Be sure to check out our ballislifebets section. 

MLB NRFI Prediction for Mariners vs White Sox

This isn't necessarily the most novel concept, but yes -- I do like two of the worst offenses in baseball to combine for a scoreless first inning.

I'm particularly fond of Drew Thorpe here, a young prospect who has worked incredibly well to a .221 Expected Batting Average in seven starts after a red-hot start to his career in the minors.

• His ability to pitch to soft contact should make this spot incredibly arduous for the Mariners, who are fifth in the league with a 65-39 NRFI record.

The White Sox, on the other hand, sit just below them in sixth at 65-40 and with the worst offense in baseball should stand no chance against the ace of Seattle's staff, George Kirby.

The righty owns a tidy 3.00 ERA in the first inning this year and should do more than enough to cash this for the Under bettors.

NRFI Prediction: Mariners vs White Sox NRFI (-150 at Caesars)