15 games between 30 teams make up Friday’s loaded 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 today?

Ahead of Friday’s MLB contests, here are three NRFI bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Tigers vs. Royals NRFI (-130)

In this AL Central matchup, it’ll be Keider Montero toeing the slab for Detroit. The right-hander isn’t an ace by any means, but he’s been a key staple of this Tigers rotation. Through six outings, the right-hander has accounted for a 3.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 25 strikeouts. To boot, he’s been terrific at the start of games (94% NRFI since 2025). On the other side, the Royals have been fairly inconsistent at the plate. Kansas City’s 15.79% YRFI rate on offense is the third-worst mark among all MLB teams.

To counter Montero, it’ll be Kris Bubic on the mound for KC. Following a breakout 2025 campaign, the southpaw has continued his recent success this season. Over 40.2 innings of work, he’s notched a 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 42 strikeouts. Now, the former All-Star will face a mediocre Tigers lineup on Friday. Detroit is averaging just 4.00 runs per game on the road, 11th-lowest in baseball. Bubic has allowed a first inning run only once over seven appearances this season. That bodes well for his chances going into this evening’s showdown.

Yankees vs. Brewers NRFI (-145)

It’s a battle between superstars in Wisconsin tonight. For the visiting Yankees, Cy Young candidate Max Fried will take the hill. The three-time All-Star has posted a 2.39 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 43 strikeouts this season. It helps that he’s done fairly well in this spot before. Fried owns a 2.84 ERA over six career meetings with Milwaukee. The Brewers have produced a National League-worst .610 OPS against left-handed pitching. In addition, they are tied for the sport’s 11th-worst YRFI rate at home (27.78%).

It’ll be none other than Jacob Misiorowski opposing Fried on Friday. The fireballer has been even better during his second year in the majors, looking the part of an ace. Over 38.0 frames, Miz has posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a league-leading 14.0 K/9 ratio. A pitcher that racks up whiffs isn’t ideal for anyone, especially New York. The Yankees, while dangerous on offense, have struck out the tenth-most times in baseball (324). Misiorowski has been more effective at home (3.36 ERA) than on the road (4.40 ERA) during his brief career.

Braves vs. Dodgers NRFI (-130)

To wrap things up, it’s a potential NLCS preview in SoCal. To kick off this much-anticipated three-game set, the Braves will send out Chris Sale. The former Cy Young winner, when healthy, is an absolute force. That’s been the case this season; he’s put up a 2.14 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 49 strikeouts through seven starts. The 37-year-old will face his toughest test yet on Friday against the defending champs. Still, the Dodgers aren’t a total lock in this spot; their 29.73% YRFI rate is about league-average. Keeping that in min, I’ll trust Atlanta’s ace to get the job done tonight.

In the top half of the inning, it’ll be Emmett Sheehan on the rubber. It’s been a disappointing season so far for the right-hander. The 26-year-old has notched a 5.23 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 36 strikeouts. Most of his struggles have come on the road (5.87 ERA). Fortunately, Friday’s contest takes place at the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium. Tossing a clean inning at any point tonight won’t be easy against Atlanta, baseball’s highest-scoring lineup. Regardless, Sheehan’s 2.72 career ERA at home gives me hope he can escape the first inning unscathed.