Our slate may be small on this Monday evening, but that does not mean there are fewer opportunities. I’ve pinpointed two NRFIs for tonight, and they will begin at the same time. So strap in as we dive into my top NRFIs of the slate.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics – 9:40 pm ET
On a small slate, this surprisingly may be the best matchup for an NRFI. Cole Irvin will be tasked with the top of the first, and he has been outstanding lately. He finished the month of July with a 1.85 ERA. Something clicker for Irvin this past month as he only allowed 19 hits and three walks over 34 innings pitched. In addition, he followed it up with a quality start against this same Angels lineup in his last start. Los Angeles has been a team to target as they rank just 16th in first-inning runs per game and lead the majors in strikeout rate. Irvin will also have a matchup edge as Ohtani and Walsh are both left-handed, and Irvin has held lefties to just a .211 batting average this season. With how hot Irvin’s been, the top of the first should be smooth sailing.