Friday MLB NRFI Odds, Pick, Prediction: Back Steven Matz & Hunter Greene in Cardinals vs. Reds
John Fisher/Getty Images. Pictured: Steven Matz.
- Steven Matz and the Cardinals take on Hunter Greene and the Reds in Friday night MLB action.
- Both starters are 2-0 when it comes to NRFI to begin the young 2022 season.
- Shayne Trail explains why he's backing them to move to 3-0 in this spot.
Shayne Trail breaks down his favorite NRFI/YRFI bet of the day below, but you can follow all of his bets in the Action Network app.
Cardinals vs. Reds — No Runs First Inning (-120)
| Matchup | Cardinals (Matz) vs. Red Sox (Greene) |
| First Pitch | 6:40 p.m. ET |
| Books Available | BetMGM |
Steven Matz is exactly what you look for in an NRFI pitcher.
He posted a phenomenal year in 2021. In 29 first innings, pitched he posted a 1.86 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. That resulted in a 24-5 NRFI record, bringing Matz to 30-7 on NRFIs since the 2020 season.
Recently, Matz is 19-2 to the NRFI in night games since the start of last season and 2-0 to the NRFI to start off his 2022 campaign.
Matz's also has a small sample size against the Reds, leaving him with the unfamiliarity advantage.
The Reds' bats are slumping to start 2022, holding the second-worst batting average in MLB, and many of those problems fall on their No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 hitters.
- Tommy Pham (.158)
- Joey Votto (.133)
- Nick Senzel (.095)
The slump has caused the Reds to be one of the last teams in MLB that has yet to achieve a YRFI at home.
On the other side is the Reds' top pitching prospect, 22-year-old Hunter Greene, who regularly tops over 100 MPH on the radar gun. He will be making his home debut tonight.
The start to his young career is promising for his NRFI potential, as he’s 2-0 to the NRFI. He has also owned hitters through the lineup for the first time, racking up a .118 batting average against.
The Cardinals enter this matchup on no rest. Frankly, they haven’t had an off day in nine days and have been on back-to-back grueling road trips, which is correlating to their lack of offensive production.
They haven’t achieved a YRFI in their last five games. Their No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 hitters are mainly at fault.
- Dylan Carlson (.158)
- Paul Goldschmidt (.162)
- Corey Dickerson (.133)
Take the NRFI efficient Matz and the NRFI prospect Greene to have a collective shutdown first inning.
As always, six outs to glory…
Get all of Shayne Trail's NRFI/YRFI bets instantly in The Action Network app.
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