Here’s one of our top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks for Monday’s slate of games: Reds vs. Pirates.
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On a small slate like this one, we need to take bets on pitchers we typically would not attack. Chase Anderson is one of those pitchers. Anderson has been dreadful this season for the Reds however the sample is extremely small. However, diving in it appears that he is getting crushed in his home ballpark. He has a double-digit ERA at home and a three ERA on the road in nine innings. It’s hard to take chances on small samples like this but the Pirates also have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball. The top third of their lineup can do some damage but they are fairly HR or bust and play in a poor park for power.
Roansy Contreras is starting for the Pirates and his poor start against the Yankees notwithstanding he has been very good in his first taste of the big leagues. The biggest issue for him has been walks as he is allowing over three per nine. He is facing a Reds offense that is second worst in baseball over the last 30 days. Their wRC+ is 81 which is only better than the Rockies who are a dreadful offense on the road. Contreras is certainly talented enough to ensure that the Reds offense stays off the board especially since there are not many hitters at the top of this order that we are concerned about.