Tuesday’s MLB slate features 14 games. There are plenty of contests to pick from for the best MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks or MLB yes runs first inning (YRFI) picks.
One game’s YRFI stands out as appealing, and a potential pitching duel between aces should open with an NRFI, albeit at chalky odds.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Tuesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Athletics (+123) at Atlanta Braves (-149) | O/U 9.0 (-120/+100)
Starting Pitchers: Aaron Civale vs. Jose Suarez
The pitching matchup between Aaron Civale and Jose Suarez isn’t exactly a battle between studs, hence the game featuring an over/under total of nine runs, with -120 odds on the over. According to FanGraphs, Civale made 23 appearances (18 starts) last season and had an ugly 4.85 ERA, 4.10 xERA, 4.73 xFIP and 4.45 SIERA.
The veteran righty got off to slow starts. Per Baseball-Reference, Civale allowed 13 runs and an .809 OPS to opposing batters in the first inning of his 18 starts. Civale also had a 4.23 ERA and 4.54 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter in 2025.
Civale won’t have an easy assignment versus the top of Atlanta’s order. The top three projected hitters, Ronald Acuna (143 wRC+), Drake Baldwin (125 wRC+) and Matt Olson (128 wRC+), have each crushed right-handed pitchers since 2024, or since debuting in the Majors in 2025 in Baldwin’s case. Austin Riley (108 wRC+) and Mike Yastrzemski (120 wRC+) don’t provide any respite behind the top three hitters, either.
Jose Suarez has mostly worked out of the bullpen in the previous two seasons, making six relief appearances and one start in 2025 and 19 relief appearances and three starts in 2024. The 28-year-old southpaw has a 5.59 ERA and 4.76 xFIP in 62 career starts.
Moreover, Suarez has a 4.41 ERA and 4.56 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter in his career, and he’s coughed up 39 runs in the first inning in 62 career starts.
The top of the order for the Athletics is more of a mixed bag than Atlanta’s. Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson batted first through fifth in their only contest against a left-handed starting pitcher this year. They’ve posted a 147 wRC+ (Langeliers), 87 wRC+ (Kurtz), 150 wRC+ (Rooker), 102 wRC+ (Soderstrom) and 140 wRC+ (Wilson) against southpaws since 2024.
Still, between the quality of hitters at the top of each lineup and the quality of the hurlers toeing the slab, the A’s and Braves should scratch at least one run across the plate in the first inning tonight.
Pick: YRFI (-115)
New York Yankees (-112) at Seattle Mariners (-108) | O/U 7.0 (-105/-115)
Starting Pitchers: Max Fried vs. Logan Gilbert
Among 95 pitchers who threw at least 130 innings in 2025, Max Fried was 11th in ERA (2.86), and Logan Gilbert was 28th (3.44). They both also had outstanding ERA estimators.
Moreover, Fried had a 2.55 ERA and a 3.75 xFIP in his first time through the order in 2025, and Gilbert had a 2.33 ERA and 2.35 xFIP in his first time through the order. New York’s ace allowed only 10 runs (seven earned) in the first inning of his 32 starts, and Gilbert allowed 11 runs (nine earned) in the first inning of his 25 starts.
Fried tossed a scoreless first inning in 24 out of 34 starts last year (including the playoffs), and he opened this season with 6.2 innings of scoreless ball against the Giants. Gilbert spun a scoreless first inning in 19 of his 29 starts last year, including the playoffs.
Fried and Gilbert don’t have the easiest paths to a scoreless first inning. Regardless, they’re among the best starting pitchers and can post zeroes on the scoreboard to open the contest.
Pick: NRFI (-145)
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.