Welcome back to another day of sports betting as the MLB season continues. We've reached the trade deadline, so hopefully by the time this article gets published, there will be some blockbusters. Teams have already made moves, and that only gets the excitement going to place some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets. It's a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of an MLB game will end with zero runs scored by either team. Pretty simple.
NRFI bets are the best because they're quick - sometimes you'll know the outcome within minutes. NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets if you’ve done your research. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for lineup announcements, which can significantly impact outcomes.
Let's dive into a couple of games on Thursday’s slate.
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Team View
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Matchup View
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- MLB Consensus Odds
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Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 1-1 | Season: 20-15 | Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees
Starting Pitchers: Ryan Pepiot vs. Marcus Stroman
This is a tough one because you have one side set up to shut out their opponent to open the game, and another side that's not. Ryan Pepiot takes the mound for the Rays, and the top of the Yankees’ lineup has struggled against him. Trent Grisham (1-for-11), Ben Rice (1-for-5) and Cody Bellinger (1-for-5) haven't exactly seen him well. Pepiot also deals against lefties - the Yankees’ top three expected hitters - limiting them to a .183 batting average against him on the year.
Then you have Marcus Stroman. He's been worse at home this year and has a 10.57 first-inning ERA. That's a bit skewed by the Giants' first-inning five-spot back in April, but it's not like he's been lights out since returning from injury. What makes me lean one way is that the Rays’ offense still ranks in the middle of the pack in early run production, and this is an early day game. Usually, teams won't take batting practice before day games, so there is an angle of rust that needs to be shaken off that favors the pitchers. I trust Pepiot. While I don't exactly trust Stroman, the Rays’ offense doesn't scare me. It's a juiced line, but it's still right to go with the NRFI.
Play: NRFI (-120)
Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Carrasco vs. Andrew Abbott
This is a particularly interesting one because the Braves haven't officially named their starter at the time of this typing. However, I do expect it to be Carlos Carrasco, and the pricing wouldn't be posted if they weren't confident in that, but just something to monitor. The 38-year-old is making his first start since May 4th. He hasn't made an MLB start in a bit, but he has promising stats.
The righty has yet to allow a run in his six starts and is limiting opponents to a .150 batting average in the opening frame. The Reds’ offense also ranks 20th in percentage of Yes Runs First Inning (YRFI) results. On the other side, the Braves’ offense ranks second in NRFI percentage. Andrew Abbott has also been lights out across the board with a 2.09 ERA and 1.50 ERA in the first inning across his 18 starts. I'm surprised this line isn't more juiced. It would be shocking if either team starts the game hot.
Play: NRFI (-115)
