MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Monday (8/25)
Monday's MLB slate features 13 games on the baseball schedule. We have plenty of 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, August 25.
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Monday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(All odds courtesy DraftKings Sportsbook)
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
Starting Pitchers: Cristopher Sanchez vs. Kodai Senga
Today's first NRFI pick features a marquee NL East matchup between the Phillies and Mets. This series should be a fun one with major divisional implications on the line. Let's get some action on the first inning with a pair of stellar pitchers on the mound.
Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez is having a Cy Young-caliber season with a 2.46 ERA and 2.63 FIP. He's been dealing all year, but especially lately. The southpaw owns a 1.86 ERA over his past 11 starts, with fewer than two runs allowed in eight of those.
Sanchez's dominance also includes a 20-5 NRFI record (80%). He owns a 2.16 ERA and a .198 batting average allowed in the first inning. It's also encouraging to see that Sanchez had a 23-8 NRFI mark last year (74%) and a 14-4 NRFI in 2023 (78%).
The Philly lefty will face a Mets offense that's batting .224 against left-handers in the first inning this season (23rd in MLB). Plus, the Mets have an ugly .132 BA vs. southpaws in the opening frame since the All-Star break. This is an extended run of the lineup struggling against lefties to begin games.
Meanwhile, New York starter Kodai Senga brings an impressive 2.58 ERA into this outing. He's also been excellent in the first inning. The right-hander owns a 16-4 NRFI record (80%) with a 2.70 ERA and .219 batting average allowed in the frame. Plus, he's now tossed a scoreless first in nine straight starts.
The Philadelphia offense is a dangerous one, but it also usually gets rolling later in games. In August, the Phillies are batting just .192 in the first inning (27th in MLB) with a 27.2% K rate (24th). Getting past Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper is definitely a tall task, but those guys mostly haven't been productive in the opening frame lately.
Pick: NRFI (-130)
Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Starting Pitchers: Hunter Greene vs. Emmet Sheehan
Let's now focus on a late-night matchup between the Reds and Dodgers. We have Hunter Greene on the mound for Cincinnati, while Emmet Sheehan starts for Los Angeles. The NRFI is firmly in play based on encouraging trends for both starters.
Greene has an impressive 2.63 ERA and 0.93 WHIP for the Reds this season. He's also been productive since returning from the IL this month. Greene tossed six shutout innings against the Phillies and then struck out 12 with three runs allowed against the Angels.
In the first inning, Greene has held opponents scoreless in 10-of-13 starts thus far (77%). He also owns a .188 batting average allowed and 29.5% strikeout rate in the opening frame this year. This has carried over from last season, when Greene posted a 22-4 NRFI record (85%) with a .174 BAA and 31.4% K rate in the first.
More notably, Greene is dominant in the first inning on the road. Over the past three seasons, he's tossed a scoreless first frame in 29-of-32 road starts (91%). That's elite NRFI production as the Reds' starter has taken advantage of pitching away from Cincinnati's hitter-friendly home park.
Greene, of course, has to deal with the potent Dodgers in today's start. It's definitely worrisome, especially since LA is crushing in the first inning lately. However, Greene's road NRFI numbers are impossible to ignore here.
On the other side, Sheehan can get the job done as well. The Reds have one of the worst first-inning offenses on the road this season. They have a .273 wOBA (29th in MLB), .213 batting average (27th), and .608 OPS (29th) in the first frame away from Cincy so far. On the road in the first inning since the AS break, the Reds are batting just .191 with a hefty 34.3% K rate.
Meanwhile, Sheehan has a 6-1 NRFI mark across his seven starts this year. It's a small sample size, but it's a good sign that the young right-hander is beginning games well. He may get into trouble later on, though a scoreless first is all we need.
Pick: NRFI (-135)