It all comes down to this. One day, three elimination games. It’s a dream come true for casual fans. As for those with a vested interest, prepare for your blood pressure to rise.
All bets are off (not literally, of course) going into Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. With everything on the line, managers will be prepared to throw the kitchen sink at opposing lineups. That makes getting off to a strong start on the mound crucial. Which arms will come out firing, and who might struggle in the first inning?
Ahead of Thursday’s MLB matchups, here are two NRFI bets worth considering on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tigers vs. Guardians NRFI (-145)
Runs have been at a premium in Cleveland this week. Expect that to continue this afternoon, with Jack Flaherty on the bump for Detroit. The right-hander has had an inconsistent 2025 season, his second stint with the Tigers. Through 161.0 innings of work, he’s notched a 4.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 188 strikeouts. However, the 29-year-old has recorded a terrific 81% NRFI rate.
It’s not as if Flaherty will be facing an offensive juggernaut tonight. The Guardians, while scrappy, are the kind of team that wins low-scoring contests. This season, Cleveland averaged the fewest runs per game in the American League (3.96).
For the home team, it’ll be Slade Cecconi toeing the slab. It’s been a solid campaign for the righty, who went from afterthought to rotation mainstay. Despite some inconsistency, the hurler has shown flashes of greatness throughout the season. During 13 of his 23 starts, Cecconi has allowed two earned runs or less. In addition, he’s posted an 83% NRFI rate.
In comparison, the Tigers rank 20th in baseball since September 1st with a .672 OPS. Detroit’s lineup has a 78.31% NRFI rate on the road, the league’s second-highest mark. Add it all up, and there’s no reason to think Cecconi can’t get off to a strong start.
Red Sox vs. Yankees NRFI (-125)
The grand finale between these two ancient rivals is sure to have plenty of must-watch drama. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that two rookies will be on the mound tonight. For the visiting Red Sox, Connelly Early will be making his fifth major league start. So far, so good for the young left-hander (2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP). Still, it’s difficult to jump to any conclusions on such a small sample size.
One edge in Boston’s favor is that Early is a southpaw. That could prove difficult for some of New York’s best hitters, such as Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger. In addition, the Yankees have never seen the 23-year-old pitch before. That level of unknown could give this lineup some trouble.
The Pinstripes will counter with their own youngster in Cam Schlittler. The righty was thrust into action during midseason, and he hasn’t disappointed. Over 73.0 innings, the fireballer has accounted for a 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 ratio. Granted, he has had difficulty in the first inning (6.43 ERA).
What makes Thursday’s matchup, against a pesky Red Sox lineup, any different? For starters, Schlittler is expected to be on a short leash. Knowing that his outing will likely end after 4-5 innings (max), the right-hander should empty the tank early. That means triple-digit fastballs to start things off; not ideal for any opposing batters. Both rookies offer high upside and major risk tonight. Still, I’m willing to bet they end the first inning scoreless.
