MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Monday (5/26)
Monday's Memorial Day MLB slate features 12 games to start the baseball week. There are numerous ways to go for our top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions.
If you're unfamiliar with NRFI bets, they're pretty simple. We're betting on whether or not any runs will be scored in the first inning by either team. Both starting pitchers must throw a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash.
Without further ado, let's get to my favorite NRFI plays for Monday, May 26th.
- 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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Monday's Best MLB No Runs First Innings (NRFI) Picks
(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers
Starting Pitchers: Kevin Gausman vs. Jacob deGrom
Today's first NRFI pick features an afternoon showdown between the Blue Jays and Rangers. Based on their proven track records, starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Jacob deGrom should combine for a scoreless first inning. Let's break it down.
Gausman is having an up-and-down season for Toronto with a 4.03 ERA through 10 starts. Some stats tell a better story overall, though. The veteran right-hander owns a career-best 0.98 WHIP right now with a 5.3% walk rate (86th MLB percentile). Gausman also has a 2.58 FIP over his last four starts, coming into this outing.
More importantly, the Blue Jays starter has thrown a scoreless first inning in seven of his 10 starts (70%). This continues a strong and promising trend from previous seasons. Gausman had a 23-8 NRFI mark last year (74%) and a 22-9 NRFI record in 2023 (71%).
Gausman should handle the top of Texas’ lineup today. The Rangers continue to underwhelm, averaging just 2.9 runs per game over their past 10 contests. The offense also ranks 27th in wOBA and 26th in wRC+ versus right-handed pitching this year.
As for deGrom, he's back to dominating opposing hitters regularly. He boasts a 2.33 ERA and 0.93 WHIP this season, with a 1.66 ERA over his last eight starts. The right-hander's 27.7% strikeout rate and 5.4% walk rate are encouraging.
Those strong deGrom outings usually begin with a scoreless opening frame. He has a 7-3 NRFI record with a .194 batting average allowed in the first inning. He's also now thrown a scoreless first frame in 15 of his last 19 starts over the past three years. In his career, deGrom owns a 2.17 ERA and .189 batting average allowed in the first inning.
Pick: NRFI (-140)
Boston Red Sox at Milwaukee Brewers
Starting Pitchers: Garrett Crochet vs. Chad Patrick
Let's now head to an Interleague matchup between the Red Sox and Brewers on Monday afternoon. The pair of starting pitchers in this game offers plenty of upside, pointing to the NRFI cashing.
Boston starter Garrett Crochet has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. He owns a 1.98 ERA and 2.71 FIP through 11 starts with a 28.7% strikeout rate. The southpaw has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his starts. He boasts a 2.01 ERA over his last seven outings as well.
Crochet also brings in strong first-inning numbers. The Red Sox lefty has a 9-2 NRFI record thus far with 18 strikeouts in his 11 opening frames. This continues a trend from last year when Crochet posted an elite 26-5 NRFI mark with a .207 batting average allowed in the first inning.
The Brewers’ offense, meanwhile, has a .297 wOBA (25th in MLB) and 87 wRC+ (26th) in the first inning this year. Milwaukee has also struggled against left-handed pitching with a .277 wOBA and 73 wRC+ in the split this season.
On the other side, Brewers starter Chad Patrick can hold his own as well. He's having a solid rookie campaign with a 3.23 ERA through 11 outings (10 starts). Patrick has been notably better at home with a 2.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP compared to a 4.12 ERA and 1.53 WHIP on the road.
Patrick boasts a 7-3 NRFI record this year. That includes a scoreless opening frame in five of his six home starts. Boston presents a tough matchup here, but the offense comes in a bit cold. The Red Sox scored just two runs over the last two games combined against the Orioles.
Besides a 19-run outburst against Baltimore on Friday, the Sox are averaging just 2.3 runs per game over their previous six contests. Plus, Boston's bats could be quiet early since they're playing an early afternoon game on the road with no travel day in between. They're also on the road for the first time in two weeks.
Pick: NRFI (-146)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: