The 2026 MLB season continues on Wednesday with all 30 teams in action. Several entertaining games are scheduled, including an American League collision between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. A divisional clash between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres will surely draw attention on the National League side.
Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here's a look at two MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks that stick out from the rest on this week's hump day.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Wednesday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh Pirates (-156) at Cincinnati Reds (+132)
Starting Pitchers: Paul Skenes vs. Andrew Abbott
A rubber match is on deck at Great American Ball Park after the Pirates and Reds split their first two games of the week. It will be a battle of aces, with Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes and Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott taking the mound. There has yet to be a first-inning run put on the board in this series. Don’t expect that to change as Skenes and Abbott have pitched a scoreless first inning in a ridiculous 104 of their 132 combined starts (78.8 percent).
Abbott scattered seven hits and tallied four strikeouts in six shutout innings during his Opening Day start. The crafty southpaw has performed well at home throughout his career, recording a 2.99 ERA across 39 outings (219.2 innings). It’s an impressive feat given Cincinnati’s favorable ballpark dimensions. While Pittsburgh made some additions to the lineup in the offseason, it remains a middling offense. Trust Abbott to take advantage.
There’s no denying that Skenes kicked off 2026 in a disastrous way. However, his meltdown should be viewed as an outlier more than anything else. The 23-year-old phenom had conceded eight earned runs in the first inning of his 55 career starts before the Mets tagged him for five on Opening Day. Skenes is undoubtedly aiming to bounce back, which only makes him scarier to face. Expect him to mow down the top of the Reds’ lineup with ease.
Pick: NRFI (-162)
Minnesota Twins (-118) at Kansas City Royals (+100)
Starting Pitchers: Joe Ryan vs. Noah Cameron
The Twins will hope to even the series with the Royals on Wednesday night following a 3-1 loss on Monday. Joe Ryan draws the start for Minnesota, while Noah Cameron toes the rubber for Kansas City. The Twins have yet to cross home plate in the first inning this year after averaging the third-fewest first-inning runs per game in 2025. Meanwhile, the Royals have posted the third-lowest OPS (.368) in the opening frame through a week of action.
It’s a favorable matchup for Cameron’s first start of the campaign. The Missouri native burst onto the scene as a rookie last season. Cameron logged a dazzling 2.99 ERA over 24 outings. Those efforts included two wins against Minnesota, where he allowed just one earned run on a solo home run in 12.1 innings of work. It’s worth pointing out that Cameron also tossed a clean first inning in 17 of those 24 starts. Trust the numbers here.
Of course, the matchup at hand favors Ryan as well. The All-Star righty has picked apart Kansas City in previous showdowns, to the tune of an impressive 8-1 record and 2.02 ERA in 11 clashes. Elite bats like Bobby Witt Jr. (6-for-27), Vinnie Pasquantino (3-for-17), and Maikel Garcia (4-for-14) have been held in check versus Ryan. Anticipate more of the same as Ryan tries to build off his Opening Day success (5.1 scoreless innings).
Pick: NRFI (-122)
