MLB NRFI Odds, Expert Pick, Prediction: Cristian Javier, Shane McClanahan Provide Early Value (Tuesday, September 20)

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.

Astros vs.

Rays

No Runs First Inning (-166)

On Tuesday, we travel to Tropicana Field to find value in the NRFI between two American League teams: the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros.

Coming into today Shane McClanahan is a solid 18-6 to the NRFI with a 13-3 home and NRFI split. When facing batters the first time through the order, McClanahan has performed very well. In 210 batters faced he’s only allowed 38 hits which is good for a .181 average.

McClanahan also performs specifically well against teams' leadoff hitters. This season, he has faced 73 leadoff hitters and has only allowed 14 hits.

Here is how some of these Astros hitters have done in the past against McClanahan:

• Trey Mancini: 3-for-17
• Christian Vázquez: 1-for-11

McClanahan has only faced two of these Astros hitters in his career and has dominated both of them. For the other hitters, the edge of unfamiliarity sides with McClanahan.

The Astros will counter with Cristian Javier, who is 16-6 to the NRFI with a 9-2 road NRFI split. When facing batters the first time through the order, Javier has performed even better than McClanahan. In 214 at-bats, Javier has only allowed 36 hits, holding his opponents to an impressive .168 average the first time through.

Here is how Javier has performed in the past against some of these Tampa Bay Rays hitters:

• Randy Arozarena: 0-for-1
• David Peralta: 2-for-5
• Harold Ramirez: 0-for-1

The Rays are riding an 8-2 NRFI streak, while Houston is achieving the NRFI on the road 69% of the time. Bet on these two proficient NRFI pitchers to throw a scoreless first inning.

As always, six outs to glory…

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