MLB NRFI Odds, Picks: Back Tarik Skubal & Jose Quintana to Shut Down Hitters in Opening Frame (Tuesday, June 7)

MLB NRFI Odds, Picks: Back Tarik Skubal & Jose Quintana to Shut Down Hitters in Opening Frame (Tuesday, June 7) article feature image
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Nic Antaya/Getty Images. Pictured: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.

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.


Tigers vs. Pirates — No Runs First Inning (-170)

MatchupTigers (Skubal) vs. Pirates (Quintana)
First Pitch7:05 p.m. ET
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On Tuesday, we travel to Pittsburgh to take a NRFI between arguably two of the worst teams in baseball.

Jose Quintana is having a great NRFI start in 2022, going 9-1 overall. This makes him 17-4 to the NRFI since 2020. Against 36 first-inning batters, Quintana has only issued one walk. More impressively, he’s holding hitters to just a .147 average. 

Here’s how Quintana has fared in the past against these Detroit hitters:

  • Javier Baez: 0 for 3
  • Johnathan Schoop: 4 for 22
  • Spencer Torkelson: 0 for 2
  • Miguel Cabrera: 16 for 49

In the last seven days — to no surprise — some Tigers are in a considerate slump hitting under .200:

  • Willi Castro: 4 for 28
  • Jeimer Candelario: 1 for 20
  • Spencer Torkelson: 4 for 23

In the last 21 days when on the road, the Tigers are among the worst in the first inning. They are just 5 for 29, which is good for a .172 average. They also own an even worse on-base percentage at 29th in the baseball. Taking a bigger first-inning sample size, the Tigers are the worst first inning road team.

In 94 road first-inning plate appearances, the Tigers have one run scored. The next closest team to them is the Orioles at six first-inning runs. 

Tarik Skubal is also putting together a rather respectable 2022 NRFI record at 8-2. In 38 first inning batters, Skubal has only issued one walk. And while holding hitters to a .222 average, he accumulated 12 strikeouts.

Here is how the Pittsburgh hitters fared against Skubal in the past:

  • Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 3
  • Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 2

In the last seven days, Pirates Nos. 4 and 5 projected hitters are just 2 for 12 and 0 for 9 hitting for a combined 2 for 21 at the plate.

Over the last 21 days, the Pirates’ first-inning woes are very similar to the Tigers. After 62 first-inning plate appearances, they managed only nine hits that’s good for a .173 average. Taking this 21-day split a step further when at home, they are hitting 4 for 29, ranking 29th in the MLB with a .138 average.

Take these two proficient NRFI pitchers to dominate these poorly ranked first-inning hitting teams. Take the NRFI between the Tigers and the Pirates.

As always, six outs to glory…

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