The 2026 MLB season is now in full swing! Thursday brings along a smaller slate of games, but we still have some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) angles to lock in. Let's dive into our top MLB NRFI picks for Thursday, April 9th.
If you're unfamiliar with NRFI bets, here's a quick explanation. We're simply betting that neither team will score a run in the first inning. That means we have a 0-0 scoreline after both teams bat in the opening frame. Conversely, you can bet on the YRFI, or Yes Runs First Inning. Without further ado, let's jump into the best NRFI picks for Thursday.
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Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins
Starting Pitchers: Jack Flaherty vs. Mick Abel
Let's lead off today's NRFI picks with an AL Central matchup. Jack Flaherty and the Tigers take on Mick Abel and the Twins on Thursday afternoon. Both pitchers bring in favorable NRFI numbers, pointing us in that direction.
Jack Flaherty has tossed a scoreless first inning in both of his first two starts this season, which continues a trend for the veteran pitcher. He posted an impressive 25-6 NRFI record last season (80.7%), including 12-2 on the road. He also had a 22-6 NRFI mark in 2024 (78.6%) and has thrown a scoreless first frame in 75.3% of his career starts.
Today, the Detroit righty will face a Twins offense that's been among the league's worst in the first inning. Minnesota has yet to score a run in the opening frame, while struggling to a .112 wOBA (30th in MLB) and .086 batting average (29th) in the inning. Plus, the Twins scored the third-fewest first-inning runs in the majors last year. Flaherty, meanwhile, had a 12-2 NRFI mark on the road in 2025.
On the other side, Mick Abel can follow suit to help cash the NRFI. The right-hander put up a 7-1 NRFI record last year as a starter. He also tossed a scoreless first inning in his first start of this season. Abel's issues usually come later in his outings, but that doesn't matter here.
Detroit does have an above-average first-inning offense. However, Abel's strong NRFI numbers are tough to ignore. Plus, he'll benefit from the Tigers not having any familiarity with facing him previously. The Twins' starter could run into trouble in later innings, but we just need him to get through the opening frame.
Pick: NRFI (-132)
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
Starting Pitchers: Anthony Kay vs. Seth Lugo
Our second NRFI pick today features another AL Central divisional matchup. It's Anthony Kay and the White Sox facing Seth Lugo and the Royals on Thursday night. Let's dive deeper into why the NRFI is the right play for this game.
Seth Lugo brings in some trustworthy first-inning numbers. He posted a solid 20-6 NRFI record last year (76.9%), but was even better two seasons ago with a 29-4 NRFI mark (87.9%) and 1.91 ERA in the opening frame. Plus, the veteran right-hander owns a career 78.4% NRFI rate.
This year, Lugo has tossed a scoreless first inning in both of his two starts thus far. He's also looked strong overall, with just two runs allowed across 11.1 innings. Let's count on the Royals' starter taking care of business early against the White Sox, who have just a .268 wOBA against righties this year (29th in MLB). It also helps that Lugo boasts an excellent 27-5 NRFI record at home since 2024.
The bigger unknown is on the other side of the matchup. White Sox starter Anthony Kay only has eight career starts under his belt, so the small sample size is tough to fully trust. Still, the lefty owns a 6-2 NRFI record (75%) in those outings.
Kay did give up a run in the opening frame of his only start of this year, but today's matchup is a good one. The Royals haven't scored a first-inning run through any of their first 12 games, with just a .186 wOBA in the opening frame (26th in MLB). Kay could allow some runs later in the game, but he can get through the first against this lineup.
Pick: NRFI (-115)
