NRFI Picks for Tonight's MLB Games, Thursday August 21, 2025

The Red Sox and Yankees square off in the Bronx this weekend in four games. Both teams are seeking to make a late summer push toward a playoff position. The American League East is crowded with good teams. Which makes baseball's races so much fun.

Our favorite choices for No Runs First Inning are below: three picks for NRFI and one YRFI tossed in.

(Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

These odds are taken from the DraftKings sports betting app.

Legendz Casino

4.4/5

Lock in MLB Best Bets at Legendz

• Social Sportsbook + Slots
• Hundreds of Vegas-style slots
• Live dealer casino games

Get up to 103 SC + 20,500 GC for FREE with Legendz!

Open Legendz Casino

NRFI: Red Sox at Yankees, +115

The Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is one of the most storied in sports, historically defined by legendary players and dramatic postseason clashes. However, the rivalry has been lopsided recently, with Boston winning the last five matchups, including a sweep at Fenway Park in June.

The Yankees will look to turn the tide as the two teams kick off a pivotal four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, with both clubs chasing a playoff spot in a tight American League pennant race.

The Sox are 5-1 against the Yankees this season. Boston is one game behind the Bombers in the division race. Neither team is likely to catch the Blue Jays. But playoff spots and seedings are in the balance.

Thursday we'll see Lucas Giolito vs Luis Gil

The latter hurler has only recently returned to the bump following a shoulder injury that shelved the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year until early August. Rusty is the word so far for Gil in a trio of starts.

But on Thursday I expect Gil will be loosened up, and ready to stymie the BoSox.

BET: Bet $100, and if the teams do not score in the opening frame, you win $215, including your stake.

NRFI: Priester vs Imanaga, Brewers/Cubs, -140

The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers has become one of the most compelling in the National League Central, born from geographic proximity and intensified by years of hard-fought divisional races.

The I-94 series is always circled on the calendar, as a large contingent of visiting fans typically travels to both Wrigley Field and American Family Field, creating a playoff-like atmosphere regardless of the standings.

In recent seasons, the two clubs have frequently battled for the division crown, trading blows in crucial late-season series that have had significant postseason implications.

Adding an unprecedented layer of drama to this rivalry is Craig Counsell, the current manager of the Chicago Cubs. Counsell, a Wisconsin native, was the beloved and winningest manager in Brewers history, leading them to five playoff appearances in nine seasons.

His shocking departure in the 2023 offseason to take the same job with the division-rival Cubs sent shockwaves through both fanbases.

For Brewers fans, it was a stunning betrayal; for the Cubs, it was a massive coup that weakened a rival while securing one of the most respected managers in the game.

Now, every meeting between the two teams is fraught with the tension of this personal connection

The boos that greet Counsell in Milwaukee and the cheers he receives in Chicago underscore the new, emotionally charged dynamic. This rivalry is no longer just about the standings; it's about loyalty, legacy, and the man who switched sides.

As the two teams prepare to face off for a Thursday afternoon game at the historic Wrigley Field, another chapter in this bitter and fascinating rivalry is set to unfold, with Counsell in the unfamiliar position of trying to defeat the very team he built into a perennial contender.

The Cubs have scored the fifth most first inning runs in baseball in 2025

But, the offense is down nearly a half-run since the All-Star break, compared to the first half of the season. Kyle Tucker is struggling so badly that he's being booed by the fans at the Friendly Confines.

I like zeroes in the first frame this afternoon as the Brewers and Cubs take each other on in a Battle of Lake Michigan.

BET: You will need to bet $70 to win $50 on NRFI for MIL/CHC.

NRFI: A's vs Twins, -110

The 2025 Oakland Athletics offense has been a study in contrasts, often struggling for consistency but possessing enough power to surprise opponents. Relying heavily on the long ball, the A's find themselves in close games, leaning on a pitching staff anchored by young talent.

A key piece of that rotation is right-hander Jack Perkins, who has emerged as a reliable workhorse. Perkins attacks hitters with a formidable arsenal, featuring a mid-90s fastball with late life and a devastatingly sharp slider that serves as his primary out-pitch.

He complements these with a developing curveball and an effective changeup, keeping opposing lineups off balance and limiting hard contact.

Today, Perkins and the A's face the Twins for an afternoon game in Minnesota

Given Perkins's ability to suppress runs and the A's often-anemic offense on the road, this matchup projects to be a low-scoring affair. Expect a classic pitcher's duel at Target Field.

The outcome will likely hinge on whether the A's can scratch across a few timely runs against the Twins' pitching, as Perkins is well-equipped to keep the game tight and prevent a slugfest.

BET: $110 to win $100 if the Twins and A's score zero runs in the first inning.