Best NRFI Bets Today & MLB Picks for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Predictions 09/14

⭐ Merrill Kelly vs. Kodai Senga: Under 0.5 (-125) at Fanduel

Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks is on a September hot streak, boasting a 1.42 ERA across his first two starts of the month, a significant improvement from his earlier season performance. 

Additionally, Kelly's first-inning ERA stands at a solid 3.46, which, although slightly higher than his overall ERA, is still well above the league average. 

The task ahead doesn't seem too daunting; Kelly is slated to pitch against a Mets lineup that is the league's worst in first-inning scoring, making it likely that he'll start off strong.

On the other side of the mound is Kodai Senga, a breakout rookie from Japan who has been wowing the league recently with his unique ghost fork pitch. 

Senga has shown consistent improvement as the season has progressed; after a rocky April where his ERA was above 4.00, he managed to reduce it to sub-3 in May and has posted impressive numbers in July and August (1.93 and 3.16, respectively). 

His September ERA so far is an excellent 2.08. Particularly effective against second and third hitters, Senga is well-positioned to face an Arizona lineup that, while not as weak as the Mets' in the first inning, has been in a decline following a strong start to the season.

Best NRFI Bets: Merrill Kelly vs. Kodai Senga: Under 0.5 (-125) at Fanduel

CLICK HERE to bet on the Dbacks vs Yankees match!

⭐ Nathan Eovaldi vs. Kevin Gausman: Under 0.5 Runs (-115) at BetMGM

Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays has maintained an impressive ERA in the low-3s since his standout season with the Giants. Notably, he led the AL in Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) last year and is on track to do so again. 

He also dominates the AL in total strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings, boasting the best strikeout-to-walk ratio last year. Despite some first-inning hiccups this season, his overall performance, especially against top hitters, remains strong.

His opponent this Thursday, Nathan Eovaldi, is no slouch either. Formerly with the Red Sox and now a Texas Ranger, Eovaldi also has a history of leading the AL in FIP. This season, he's keeping up a sub-3 ERA and a WHIP under 1.100. 

With a first-inning ERA of 3.00, Eovaldi is well-poised to take on a Toronto lineup that ranks a lowly 27th in first-inning scoring.

Best NRFI Bets: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Kevin Gausman: Under 0.5 Runs (-115) at BetMGM

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⭐ Aaron Civale vs. Kyle Bradish: Under 0.5 Runs (-110) at DraftKings

This game promises to be a gripping showdown, featuring division rivals Tampa Bay and Baltimore locked in an exciting race for the top spot. 

Early scoring is rare in such intense matchups, particularly when both teams have strong pitching arms. Tampa's Aaron Civale, though slightly less stellar since leaving Cleveland, maintains an impressive 2.25 ERA across 20 first innings.

Facing him is Baltimore's breakout star, Kyle Bradish, whose year-two performance in the majors is remarkable: an ERA just above 3.00, and strong WHIP and FIP numbers that negate any claims of luck. 

In 26 first innings this season, Bradish has a stunning 1.04 ERA and has restricted batters to a mere .119 average and a .344 OPS. Though Tampa's first-inning offense is decent, recent trends suggest a decline. Given Bradish's stellar record, he should handle them comfortably.

Best NRFI Bets: Aaron Civale vs. Kyle Bradish: Under 0.5 Runs (-110) at DraftKings

⭐ CLICK HERE to bet on the  Rays vs. Orioles match! ⭐