MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Thursday (4/10)
Welcome back to another day of sports betting as the MLB season continues through the early stages of play. Today we are making some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets. Opening Day started hot, and the plan is to continue that today. NRFI stands for No Runs First Inning. It's a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of an MLB game will end with zero runs scored by either team. Pretty simple.
NRFI bets are the best because they're quick - sometimes you'll know the outcome within minutes. NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets if you’ve done your research. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for lineup announcements, which can change a lot.
Let's dive into a couple of games in the NRFI market.
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Team View
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Matchup View
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- MLB Consensus Odds
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
MLB Season: 4-1 | Last Time: 1-1
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves
Starting Pitchers: Jesus Luzardo vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
If you haven't followed, Spencer Schwellenbach has had an excellent start to his season, allowing three total hits over his first 14 innings with zero runs and 14 strikeouts. He finished last season strong with a 2.45 ERA over his final six starts and seems to have picked up right where he left off.
Bryce Harper has seen him well. Otherwise, the Braves starter has done excellently at limiting the top of the Phillies’ lineup. On the other side, Jesus Luzardo held the Dodgers scoreless, and Atlanta has scored at a bottom-seven clip in the opening frame this season with four straight scoreless first innings. I'm going to trust Luzardo's solid start to the season, and the matchup history is essentially a coin flip with a high number of at-bats from the opposing top of the lineup, but no great numbers jump off the page.
Play: NRFI (-140 on bet365)
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox
Starting Pitchers: Chris Bassitt vs. Walker Buehler
Chris Bassitt may have started the season well with one run allowed in his first 12.2 innings, but if there is a chance for a blow-up game, it might be against these Boston Red Sox. Here's how the expected top of the order has fared against Bassitt in his career:
- Jarren Duran: 517 OPS, 15 at-bats
- Rafael Devers: 1.786 OPS, 14 at-bats
- Alex Bregman: 1.064 OPS, 26 at-bats
- Triston Casas: 1.667 OPS, four at-bats
Not bad.
Duran is the only one who hasn't exactly raked off Bassitt, but he's still seen him plenty, and the rest of the order is dangerous. I'll also say Casas is 1-for-4 off Bassitt, but that one hit is a home run. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays haven't exactly seen Walker Buehler much historically, but the former Dodger has already allowed three home runs this season to the tune of an 8.68 ERA.
Both offenses have been excellent in the opening inning, and I'm OK with a not-so-friendly Yes Runs First Inning (YRFI) line as the over in general feels right.
Play: YRFI (+100 on DraftKings Sportsbook)