MLB picks Thursday 6/15 – YRFI & NRFI best bets today: Aaron Nola and Ryne Nelson’s Impact

The Major League Baseball week pushes on with a Thursday lineup of 10 games, highlighted by the Angels and Rangers showdown on FS1 and concluding with the Dodgers versus the White Sox. Three afternoon games are also on tap, including the Rays-Athletics matchup. The schedule offers numerous opportunities for exciting YRFI/NRFI bets.

The YRFI/NRFI market has gained considerable traction in baseball betting. Instead of enduring a 3-hour game (or less, with games now shorter on average) to determine your bet outcome, the thrill (or possibly regret) is instantaneous, hinging on the first inning.

Maintaining my momentum from yesterday’s 2-0 record, here are my top YRFI/NRFI picks for Thursday. Don’t forget to explore all of our MLB predictions.

First Match Starting Thursday 15th June, 3:40 PM ET

BettingPicks Expert YRFI & NRFI Predictions

The baseball calendar presents an array of intriguing matchups, with Philadelphia Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals at Houston Astros being the highlights. Let’s examine some intriguing NRFI (No Run First Inning) predictions for these games, bearing in mind the current form and statistics of the key players.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Arizona Diamondbacks: NRFI (-102)

Pitcher Aaron Nola is set to take to the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite a somewhat unspectacular record for 2023, with 5-5 and an ERA of 4.60, Nola is still a player to watch. His WHIP stands at a robust 1.10, and he boasts an impressive 84 strikeouts against a mere 23 walks in 88.0 innings. Nola has also shown promise by delivering clean first innings in his last three starts.

Opposing Nola, Arizona Diamondbacks have Ryne Nelson, a young talent thriving in his maiden major-league season. Despite an early shaky start, Nelson has managed to decrease his ERA from 6.20 to 4.95 in the last five starts. Except for a hiccup against Colorado, he has successfully denied any first-inning runs. Moreover, his previous encounter with the Phillies was a strong one, allowing only one run, three hits, and no walks in six innings. Given the Phillies’ unfamiliarity with Nelson, the NRFI bet seems promising.

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros: NRFI (-110)

On the other hand, the game between Washington Nationals and Houston Astros sees Cristian Javier taking the mound for the latter. Even though Javier hasn’t quite maintained his previous level of striking prowess, he has admirably managed to refine his walk numbers, keeping his ERA low. He has allowed a 0.294 wOBA (weighted on-base average) on the first cycle in 2023 and a career average of 0.262, making him a potent force against the cooling Nationals’ offense.

MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals’ pitcher, has shown significant progress this season. Despite a slightly high BB%, his K% stands at an impressive 28%. The Astros’ offensive lineup, with a 108 wRC+ against left-handers, could pose a challenge for Gore. However, considering the overall game dynamics, an NRFI bet seems like a viable gamble.

To conclude, both games hold strong NRFI predictions given the current form of the teams and the pitchers’ performances.

BettingPicks Expert YRFI & NRFI Predictions

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