This is arguably the best time of year to be a sports fan, rolling from March Madness through The Masters and into the NHL and NBA playoffs. Of course, the MLB campaign is underway as well, and we have another loaded slate of baseball on the schedule Saturday. If you're looking to get in on the action Saturday, then you've come to the right place. I've narrowed in on three MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks for today's 15-game slate.
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Saturday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Milwaukee Brewers (-108) vs. Miami Marlins (-112) | O/U 7.5 (-105/-115)
Starting Pitchers: Brandon Woodruff vs. Sandy Alcantara
Following an ugly six-game losing streak, the Brewers (11-8) have won their last three games. They'll try to make it four in a row when they turn to Brandon Woodruff today against the Marlins (9-11). The Fish counter with Sandy Alcantara in this National League showdown, which gets underway at 4:10 p.m. ET from loanDepot park in Miami, FL.
Alcantara appears to be returning to his ace form, as he enters the weekend with a 2.67 ERA (35th) and a 0.86 WHIP (14th). The right-hander draws a Milwaukee lineup that has been ice cold, ranking 26th in wOBA (.301) and batting average (.219) over the last seven days. The Brew Crew's key hitters of Sal Frelick (0-for-2), William Contreras (0-for-9) and Brice Turang (0-for-3) are a combined 0-for-14 (.000) against Alcantara in the head-to-head department.
Woodruff (4.32 ERA) also has a great track record against his opponent. The Marlins' top-of-the-order hitters of Xavier Edwards (1-for-8) and Agustin Ramirez (0-for-4) are just 1-for-12 (.083) against him. Both teams have seen the NRFI cash in two consecutive games, and that's a trend I expect to continue on Saturday.
Bet: NRFI (-155)
Texas Rangers (+113) vs. Seattle Mariners (-136) | O/U 7.0 (-120/+100)
Starting Pitchers: Nathan Eovaldi vs. George Kirby
The Rangers (11-9) took last night's series opener 5-0 against the Mariners (8-13). The divisional foes are back at it this evening, and we have an elite pitching matchup between Nathan Eovaldi and George Kirby. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA.
Runs are typically at a premium when these American League West rivals square off. The under is 4-1 in the last five meetings, and the oddsmakers have a deflated total of just seven runs for tonight's affair. Kirby (3.25 ERA) has owned Texas' big bats, holding Brandon Nimmo (1-for-11), Corey Seager (1-for-18) and Wyatt Langford (2-for-14) to a combined 4-for-43 (.093).
As for Eovaldi (5.40 ERA), he looked a bit more like the elite pitching talent that we're used to in his latest start, blanking the Athletics over seven innings. Seattle's current roster has struggled against the right-hander, slashing just .204/.257/.336 against him over 137 at-bats. With Cal Raleigh (.163 batting average), Julio Rodriguez (.203) and Josh Naylor (.141) still underperforming in 2026, I think we see Eovaldi shove tonight on the road. Let's play the NRFI.
Bet: NRFI (-145)
San Diego Padres (-110) vs. Los Angeles Angels (-110) | O/U 9.5 (+102/-122)
Starting Pitchers: German Marquez vs. Yusei Kikuchi
The red-hot Angels (11-10) cruised past the Padres (13-7) 8-0 last night, partially thanks to another excellent outing from Jose Soriano (5.2 innings, zero earned runs). Yusei Kikuchi will try to pick up where Soriano left off, while the Friars counter with German Marquez. This is the MLB nightcap, and it's set for 9:39 p.m. ET from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
I'll flip over and play the yes runs first inning (YRFI) side in this Padres-Angels Interleague clash. Los Angeles has been crushing the ball recently, ranking first in wOBA (.399) and ISO (.237) over the last seven days. They're running into Marquez, who brings in a 5.54 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. The Halos have been the third-best YRFI team this season, going 13-8 (62%) to the prop bet. They're on an 8-2 run in their last 10 games.
As for the Padres, they'll be looking to tee off against a pedestrian opponent in Kikuchi. The left-hander is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP in four starts (18 innings). San Diego is slashing .301/.363/.524 against him in 103 head-to-head at-bats, and that includes the Padres' key batters of Fernando Tatis Jr. (3-for-11), Jackson Merrill (2-for-3) and Manny Machado (4-for-10). I think it's likely the scoring starts early and often in Orange County this evening, so give me the YRFI.
Bet: YRFI (-135)
