11 games between 22 teams make up Thursday’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 Thursday?
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 |
| Blue Jays vs. Cubs NRFI (-145) | Cease vs. Peterson |
| Twins vs. Royals NRFI (-105) | Ober vs. Wacha |
Blue Jays vs. Cubs NRFI (-145)
In what’s shaping up to be a lost season, Dylan Cease has been a force on the mound. Through 119.1 innings pitched (20 starts), the Cy Young candidate has notched a 2.41 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 174 strikeouts (13.1 K/9). He also paces the American League in hits per nine (5.9) and home runs per nine (0.5). Cease can struggle at times when it comes to getting out of the first inning. However, he should find success this afternoon against a Cubs lineup that owns baseball’s eighth-worst YRFI rate (26.09%). Chicago has a worse OPS against righties (.738) compared to left-handed pitching (.803).
Speaking of southpaws, David Peterson will get the nod on Thursday. Since coming over from the Mets, the seventh-year pro has been solid. Over six games with the Cubs, he’s notched a 4.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. In five of those appearances, he’s allowed two earned runs or less. Now, Chicago’s hurler will face a feeble Blue Jays lineup at home. Toronto is last in runs scored (449) and YRFI rate (21.74%). To make matters worse, the club has an MLB-worst .638 OPS against lefties. In short, this is as good of an NRFI situation as it gets.
Twins vs. Royals NRFI (-105)
It’ll be Bailey Ober toeing the slab this evening for Minnesota. The righty isn’t a household name, but he’s a serviceable innings eater for this surprisingly competitive Twins squad. Through 87.0 innings pitched (16 starts), the 31-year-old owns a 4.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 63 strikeouts (6.5 K/9). That’ll set him up nicely heading into tonight’s divisional matchup. The Royals are offensively inept, ranking 25th in runs per game (4.15). Ober has put up a sparkling 1.46 ERA over his previous six meetings with Kansas City. He comes into this one with a respectable 75.0% NRFI rate.
Although the Royals have little to play for, Michael Wacha has put together a terrific season. The two-time All-Star has recorded a 3.51 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 111 strikeouts (7.2 K/9) over 138.1 innings. To boot, the veteran is usually difficult to hit at the start of games. Wacha has delivered an impressive 85% NRFI rate since 2025. Granted, the Twins are one of the league’s better hitting teams. However, they’re currently without slugger Byron Buxton (hip). As a result, Minnesota’s middle of the order is far less potent. Keeping that in mind, it’s likelier than not that both starters can escape the first inning unscathed.
