Welcome back to another day of sports betting as the MLB season continues and we can make some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks & bets. NRFI is 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 pair of games on today’s smaller slate.
- 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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Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 2-0 | Season: 12-10 | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins
Starting Pitchers: Patrick Corbin vs. Bailey Ober
To start today's NRFI betting card, I'm going with the early game to jump out of the gate right away. The Rangers face off in Minnesota in an early-day game before returning home to Arlington. Patrick Corbin takes the bump for Texas. While his overall ERA is a solid 3.52, his first-inning ERA pops. In 11 starts, the southpaw has allowed just one run.
The top of the lineup is a bit scary, but Corbin has still limited righties to a .252 batting average and is tough to face the first time through the order. Minnesota counters with Bailey Ober, who also shines early in games, allowing just four opening frame runs in 13 starts. Marcus Semien is scary, but besides that, none of the top of the order foes for Texas have hit Ober all that well, and the Twins righty has much more favorable splits at home.
Considering that Texas has the third-lowest first-inning run-scored percentage in the league, I'm surprised at these odds and am jumping at them. You can find some plus odds out there if you look hard enough.
Play: NRFI (-105)
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
Starting Pitchers: Andrew Heaney vs. Jameson Taillon
Despite the Cubs’ firepower offensively this season, they still rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to first-inning runs. Pittsburgh isn't much better with the sixth-highest NRFI percentage. This is more of a fade on the offenses than backing the pitchers.
Still, I like the setup. Andrew Heaney has a 2.77 first-inning ERA this year and has held Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki to a combined 2-for-19 lifetime. I expect the Pittsburgh starter to get out of the inning unscathed. It shouldn't be much different on the other side. Jameson Taillon is nearly unstoppable early on, allowing just one opening frame run in his 13 starts while managing a 2.70 home ERA. This is an easy NRFI pick.
Play: NRFI (-120)
