Welcome back to another day of sports betting as the MLB season continues, and we can make some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets. NRFI is 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 change a lot.
Let's dive into these two games.
- 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: 0-2 Season: 9-7 | All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
San Diego Padres vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Starting Pitchers: Stephen Kolek vs. Bowden Francis
On the surface, this may seem like an avenue for early runs scored early, but digging deeper, it seems the opposite. Stephen Kolek owns a 2.33 ERA in his three starts without a run allowed across his two road starts. Toronto scoring early isn't as much of a concern, as they are tied for 20th in the Yes Runs First Inning (YRFI) department.
On the other side, Bowden Francis has a 5.63 ERA this year, but he's only allowed two runs in his nine starts in the first inning. After that, he may fall apart, but only one San Diego hitter has recorded a hit off Francis, and it's Jake Cronenworth, who likely will not get an at-bat in the first inning. This is a surprising line considering the two offenses that rank in the bottom half at scoring early, and both teams are sporting solid early-game pitchers. I'll take the NRFI here.
Play: NRFI (-105)
Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees
Starting Pitchers: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Carlos Rodon
This is where an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Both offenses rank in the top 10 in YRFI and overall first-inning scoring. Aaron Judge has been electric and can hit a home run at any time. The pitchers, however, have been locking it down.
Nathan Eovaldi owns a 1.43 road ERA. In his 10 starts, he has allowed just two first-inning runs, limiting opponents to a .171 batting average. He hasn't even allowed a run in his last two starts, let alone a first-inning one.
Carlos Rodon takes the bump for New York, who also has a 1.80 ERA in the opening frame. I know it feels easy to go with the YRFI angle, but with how the pitchers have been dealing this year, it might make sense to go the opposite direction.
Play: NRFI (-125)
