MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Thursday (8/7)
Welcome back to another day of sports betting as the MLB season continues. The trade deadline has come and gone, and now we look to the playoffs. Teams have already made moves, and that only gets the excitement going to place some No Runs First Inning (NRFI) wagers. It's a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of a Major League Baseball 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 significantly impact the outcome.
Let's dive into some games on this August 7th 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: 1-1 | Season: 21-16 | Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves
Starting Pitchers: Eury Perez vs. Carlos Carrasco
Let's start with the last game of the day, shall we? Carlos Carrasco is where I'm most worried about letting up early runs. He has a 5.68 ERA on the year, and at 38 years old, he has a shelf life. But his splits in this matchup favor run limitation. In his seven starts, he's yet to allow a first-inning run. He's remarkably better at home than on the road, and his first-time faced splits are leagues above second and third. Miami is right in the middle of the pack with NRFI percentages while being slightly worse on the road.
For the Marlins, Eury Perez takes the bump, and he's been awesome. The top three in the Braves’ expected lineup have gone 1-for-7 against him, which is a small sample size but promising nonetheless. The righty limits opponents to a .169 average and .512 OPS the first time through the order. Even if his control is off, I still see the Braves struggling to score early. For a near coin flip, I feel there's a clear side here.
Play: NRFI (-110)
Athletics vs. Washington Nationals
Starting Pitchers: Jacob Lopez vs. Mitchell Parker
The other two games on this slate are heavily favored towards the NRFI, and I agree. If you care to add more to your betting card, feel free to throw in an NRFI wager for the White Sox-Mariners and Red-Pirates matchups. I want to focus on a game that's a bit more up in the air.
A movable object meets a stoppable force. Mitchell Parker gets the nod for Washington, and he hasn't been great with a 5.35 ERA. He is better at home, and none of these Athletic hitters have seen him before. What also helps is that the A's have a 36-23 NRFI/YRFI record on the road, and it’s 16-7 against lefties this year, heavily in support of a goose egg in the opening frame.
Southpaw Jacob Lopez gets to face two lefties off the cusp against Washington, which helps his chance at run limitation. Lopez has held opponents to a .708 OPS the first time through the order as well. The biggest lean that helps is how early this game is, especially for a West Coast A's team. If anyone's scoring, it's the Nationals. But I expect Lopez to do his part and keep the opening frame without a run.
Play: NRFI (-110)