MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Monday (7/7)
Monday's MLB slate features 10 games on the baseball schedule. We have many ways to go for our top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions.
If you're unfamiliar with MLB NRFI picks, 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 MLB NRFI picks for Monday, July 7th.
- 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 Inning (NRFI) Picks
(All odds courtesy DraftKings Sportsbook)
Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers NRFI Picks
Starting Pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Freddy Peralta
Today's first NRFI pick brings us to a matchup between two National League playoff contenders. The Brewers host the Dodgers with a pair of National League All-Stars on the mound. Both have strong first-inning numbers that should help cash the NRFI.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto is having an excellent season with a 2.51 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. His dominance usually starts early with a scoreless first inning in 13 out of 17 starts (77%) thus far. The right-hander also boasts a 1.59 ERA and .138 batting average allowed in the opening frame.
Yamamoto also had first-inning success last year, posting a 13-5 NRFI mark. That included a 7-1 NRFI record on the road with a 2.06 ERA overall across his eight road starts. This season, he owns a 1.57 ERA and 2.35 FIP on the road, including a 7-1 road NRFI record as well. If you're keeping score at home, Yamamoto has now tossed a scoreless first frame in 14 of his 16 road starts as an MLB pitcher.
The Brewers have one of the league's worst first-inning offenses at home this year, with a .266 wOBA (29th in MLB) and .206 batting average (30th). They also rank 27th in first-inning runs scored over the past month. It's a favorable spot for Yamamoto to continue his NRFI success.
On the other side, Milwaukee’s Peralta can hold serve despite facing a dangerous Dodgers lineup. Peralta has a 2.91 ERA and 1.09 WHIP this season, including a 2.89 ERA over his last five outings. He's been especially elite at home, with a 1.76 ERA and 2.70 FIP across eight home starts.
Peralta also boasts some encouraging NRFI trends. He's tossed a scoreless first inning in 15 out of 18 starts thus far with a 2.50 ERA and .185 batting average allowed in the frame. He's posted a perfect 8-0 NRFI record at home, too. Peralta had a 22-10 NRFI record last year (69%) and a 23-7 NRFI mark in 2023 (77%). He owns a career 70% NRFI rate as well.
Overall, the Dodgers have one of the league's top first-inning offenses this season. However, that's not the case recently. Over the past month, Los Angeles ranks last in batting average and 28th in wOBA in the opening frame. The lineup is also batting just .132 on the road in the first inning over the last month of games.
Pick: NRFI (-130)
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels NRFI Picks
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Yusei Kikuchi
Let's now focus on an American League West matchup between the Rangers and Angels. We have Jacob deGrom on the mound for Texas, and then Yusei Kikuchi starting for Los Angeles. Both veteran starters can anchor a scoreless first inning tonight.
Kikuchi is having a career-best season with a 2.81 ERA and a recent All-Star nomination. He's been pitching well for the past two months, boasting a 2.05 ERA over his last 11 starts. Kikuchi has been especially elite at home this year, with a 1.12 ERA and .205 batting average allowed across eight home outings.
Kikuchi has a 12-6 NRFI record thus far (67%). It's not the best, but he's been better in this area in recent seasons. The southpaw posted a 22-10 NRFI mark last year (69%) and a 23-9 NRFI mark in 2023 (72%). He also owns a solid 69% NRFI rate over the past five seasons combined.
At home today, Kikuchi can get through the first inning unscathed. Over the past two weeks, the Rangers are batting just .178 in the opening frame (28th) with a .238 wOBA (28th). Texas also ranks 25th in wOBA against left-handers in the first inning overall this season.
Plus, for what it's worth, Kikuchi had a great outing against Texas earlier this year. He allowed only one run over six innings and held the Rangers scoreless in the first.
Meanwhile, deGrom is having a resurgent All-Star season himself with a 2.13 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. The Rangers righty boasts a 1.66 ERA and 38:7 K:BB ratio over his last six starts as well. He brings a ton of confidence into this matchup, and his first-inning numbers are top-tier.
The Ranges ace has a 12-5 NRFI record this year (70%) with a minuscule .165 batting average allowed in the first inning. He also boasts a 0.71 WHIP in the opening frame so far. This is what deGrom does. Despite battling injuries over the past few years, he's regularly dominant in the first inning.
In his career, deGrom owns an elite 82% NRFI rate with a 2.18 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in the first inning. If we combine the past four seasons of starts, he's posted a 30-7 NRFI record (81%). Simply put, we can trust the veteran ace in the first inning.
As for the Angels, they're admittedly a potent first-inning offense this season. Over the past two weeks, though, Los Angeles is hitting just .208 in the opening frame (24th). Either way, deGrom's track record is what we're banking on here.
Pick: NRFI (-150)