A 30-team, 15-game slate makes up Wednesday’s MLB slate. For those looking to cash in quickly on a bet, nothing makes more sense than an NRFI. With that being said, there’s more to this one than meets the eye. Some pitchers thrive early, while others take more time to get settled in than others. Which NRFI picks are worth a closer look on Wednesday?
Ahead of today’s Major League Baseball contests, here are two NRFI bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best NRFI Prop Bets Today
| Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Athletics vs. Reds NRFI (-105) | Lopez vs. Lowder |
| Pirates vs. Brewers NRFI (-150) | Skenes vs. Harrison |
Athletics vs. Reds NRFI (-105)
At first glance, this doesn’t seem like the kind of pitching matchup you want to invest in. However, both arms taking the mound at Great American Ball Park tonight have done well in the first inning. For the visiting Athletics, it’ll be Jacob Lopez. Through 70.0 innings pitched (14 starts), he’s notched a 5.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 61 strikeouts (7.8 K/9). While those numbers are terrible, they don’t tell the whole story. Lopez does slightly better on the road (5.12) compared to hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Even more important, he has a career 85% NRFI rate; the righty comes into this one on an 11-game NRFI streak. In comparison, the Reds are 26th in runs scored (467) and 26th in YRFI rate at home (25.86%).
On the other side, it’ll be Rhett Lowder toeing the slab. Much like Lopez, this hasn’t been the greatest campaign for the 24-year-old. He enters play tonight with a disappointing 5.42 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 70 strikeouts (7.6 K/9). With that being said, the right-hander has a stellar 77.8% NRFI rate over nine career outings in Cincinnati. In comparison, the Athletics are banged up and slumping at the plate right now. The team has scored 31 runs over its previous ten contests, second-worst in baseball during that time. The A’s are also averaging the seventh-fewest runs per game on the road (4.08). It’s not a stretch to think that Lowder can keep them in check during the first inning.
Pirates vs. Brewers NRFI (-150)
In this marquee NL Central showdown, none other than Paul Skenes will get the nod for Pittsburgh. The reigning NL Cy Young winner has had a disappointing 2026 so far. He comes into tonight’s game with a 3.90 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 156 strikeouts (11.3 K/9). That’s not a bad stat line by any means, but a tad below what we’ve come to expect from the ace. One area where Skenes hasn’t had much fall-off is during the first inning. He’s accounted for a stellar 84% NRFI rate over the past two seasons. That lines up well against tonight’s opponent, the Brewers. Milwaukee has a 27.43% YRFI rate, tenth-worst in the majors.
As for the Brew Crew, unexpected standout Kyle Harrison will be on the bump this evening. Acquired this offseason, it’s been a terrific debut season in Milwaukee. This will be his first appearance in nearly a month after suffering left forearm tightness. When healthy, the 24-year-old has proven he’s one of the National League’s best arms. Over 83,2 innings pitched (17 starts), Harrison has recorded a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 101 strikeouts (10.9 K/9). On most occasions, the Pirates are a handful at the plate. However, this might be the perfect time for opposing pitchers to face the Buccos. Several key bats are injured, including Ryan O’Hearn (quad) and Oneil Cruz (hand). Pittsburgh has scored the fifth-fewest runs in baseball (51) over its last 15 contests. Keeping that in mind, Harrison has what it takes to escape the first inning unscathed.
