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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Saturday (5/3)

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Saturday brings along another jam-packed MLB slate of games. As you enjoy the weekend baseball, let’s dive into the top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions.

If you're unfamiliar with NRFI bets, it's 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 pitch a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash. 

We have two picks for Saturday featuring the Dodgers vs. the Braves and the Mets vs. the Cardinals. Let's get to my favorite NRFI plays for Saturday, May 3rd. 

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Saturday's Best MLB No Runs First Innings (NRFI) Picks

(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

Starting Pitchers: Roki Sasaki vs. Spencer Schwellenbach

Saturday night's baseball slate is headlined by a matchup between two of the National League's best teams from the past five years. The Atlanta Braves host the Los Angeles Dodgers with a pair of exciting arms on the mound. Those starting pitchers anchor this NRFI pick. 

Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach is off to a strong start with a 2.87 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through six starts. His dominance begins in the first inning. The right-hander boasts a 5-1 NRFI record with a .143 batting average and .182 on-base percentage (OBP) allowed in the first inning. 

Schwellenbach's first-inning success continues from last year when he held opponents scoreless in 19 out of 21 opening frames. He also sported a 1.29 ERA and .127 batting average against in his first innings a season ago. 

Though the Dodgers have one of the best first-inning offenses in the majors, we can trust Schwellenbach's strong NRFI track record here. Plus, he's tossed a scoreless first inning in 12 out of 14 home starts over the past two seasons combined. That includes a 3-0 NRFI record at home this year. 

On the other side, Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki is more of a wild card to this NRFI equation. The Japanese rookie has allowed a first-inning run in half of his six starts this season. Admittedly, he's tough to trust early. However, the Braves have one of the worst first-inning offenses in the MLB. 

Atlanta has scored 12 runs in the first inning this season, the fifth-fewest in the Majors. The offense ranks 28th in batting average, 26th in wOBA and 26th in strikeout rate across its opening frames. As up-and-down as Sasaki has been, he still has the stuff to get through a scoreless first inning here. 

Pick: NRFI (-111)

New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals

Starting Pitchers: Tylor Megill vs. Erick Fedde

Today's second NRFI pick takes us to a National League matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. On the surface, Tylor Megill versus Erick Fedde doesn't exactly scream NRFI. However, these two starting pitchers have strong first-inning numbers that should lead to a scoreless opening frame. 

Megill is off to an excellent start for New York with a 1.74 ERA and 2.32 FIP. The right-hander has allowed fewer than two earned runs in four of his six starts. It gets going early for Megill, who's yet to give up a first-inning run this season. He's allowed only a .100 batting average and .217 OBP in the opening frame.

The Mets starter also boasts a 10-1 NRFI record over his last 11 starts, going back to last season. Megill ended the 2024 campaign with a 2.32 ERA over his final six outings. He'll face a Cardinals offense ranked 28th in the Majors with 10 first-inning runs scored this year. They also have just a .297 wOBA (28th in MLB) and .209 batting average (26th) in the first inning. 

Meanwhile, St. Louis starter Erick Fedde can hold serve to keep the opening frame scoreless. Fedde had an impressive 25-6 NRFI record last year (80.6%) with a 1.74 ERA and .229 batting average allowed in the first inning. This season, the righty has a 4-2 NRFI record so far. 

Expect a bounceback from Fedde after he coughed up three runs in the first inning last time out. He'll take on a Mets offense that ranks 23rd in first-inning runs scored this year. Based on his track record last year, Fedde can get through the opening frame unscathed. 

Furthermore, the Mets’ 22-11 NRFI record is the best in the league. That includes 11-6 to the NRFI on the road, which is tied for the fourth-best mark in the league.

Pick: NRFI (-115)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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