MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Sunday (8/3)
There's no shortage of ways to get in on the betting action today, including heading to the prop sheet for a few No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets. Here are my top NRFI wagers for Sunday, August 3rd.
- 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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Sunday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Houston Astros (-132) vs. Boston Red Sox (+108) | O/U 8.0 (-117/-104)
Starting Pitchers: Framber Valdez vs. Lucas Giolito
Let's get things started in Boston, where the Red Sox (61-51) are looking to break out the brooms against the visiting Astros (62-49). Framber Valdez gets the nod for Houston, while Boston opts for Lucas Giolito. First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 a.m. ET from Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
Giolito has been shaky at times this season, but ultimately enters the series finale with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He's coming off a quality start against the Twins, where he limited them to one earned run over six innings. The right-hander draws a matchup against a middle-of-the-pack Houston offense ranked 13th in wOBA (.318) and 28th in ISO (.122) over the last seven days.
As for the bottom half of the frame, the Red Sox will have to deal with Valdez. The left-hander has been lights out this season, ranking ninth in ERA (2.62), 19th in WHIP (1.11) and 11th in strikeouts (141). Boston's current roster is slashing a measly .214/.312/.286 against him over 28 head-to-head at-bats. Houston is eighth in the Majors to the NRFI this season with a record of 62-49 (56%). I like for this game to be scoreless after the first inning.
Bet: NRFI (-135)
New York Yankees (-117) vs. Miami Marlins (-103) | O/U 8.0 (-119/-103)
Starting Pitchers: Luis Gil vs. Edward Cabrera
The Yankees (60-51) are attempting to avoid the brooms this afternoon, and they'll turn to Luis Gil as they try to salvage a game in this series against the Marlins (54-55). Miami counters with Edward Cabrera in this Interleague showdown, which gets underway at 1:40 p.m. ET from loanDepot park in Miami, FL.
The Marlins' pitching staff has logged three shutouts in their last four games. They'll turn to Cabrera and his 3.35 ERA to try and keep the trend alive. The right-hander has found success against the Yankees in the past, as their current roster is slashing .231/.355/.385 against him over 26 at-bats. With Aaron Judge (elbow) still sidelined, I like for Cabrera to take care of business in this spot.
We'll be relying on Gil in the bottom of the first. The 27-year-old pitcher is coming off a 2024 campaign where he won the American League Rookie of the Year award with a 3.50 ERA. This will be his season debut. He'll have to navigate a feisty Fish offense, but their team record to the NRFI this season is 56-53 (51%). They're 6-4 to the prop bet in their last 10 games. New York is desperate for a win, so I expect Gil to bring his best stuff early on.
Bet: NRFI (-135)
Texas Rangers (-145) vs. Seattle Mariners (+119) | O/U 7.5 (-101/-120)
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Logan Evans
Let's wrap things up in the Pacific Northwest in this divisional series between the Rangers (58-54) and the Mariners (59-53). Jacob deGrom will toe the rubber for Texas, while Seattle counters with Logan Evans. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA.
Evans hasn't been overpowering this season with his 4.22 ERA. However, that number dips to 2.60 at home. Opponents are hitting just .200 against the right-hander at T-Mobile Park this year, compared to .325 on the road. Texas is the fifth-best NRFI team in the Majors at 65-47 (58%), and they're averaging only 0.45 runs per first inning (21st).
On the flip side, I feel pretty safe with deGrom leading the charge. He has been spectacular this season, going 10-3 with a 2.55 ERA (sixth) and a 0.92 WHIP (fourth). His 130 punchouts are the 21st-most in the Majors. Seattle's current roster is slashing just .232/.303/.406 against deGrom over a 69-at-bat sample size. The M's are a profitable 59-53 (53%) to the NRFI this season, including going 7-3 in their last 10 contests.
Bet: NRFI (-140)