MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (4/16)
The 2025 MLB season continues on Wednesday with 15 games on the schedule. A few entertaining series are set for action, including a National League collision between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. The Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees will surely also draw some attention in their 2024 Postseason rematch.
Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without having to sweat through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Run First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here's a dive into two MLB NRFI options that stick out from the rest on this week's hump day.
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Wednesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Washington Nationals (-106) at Pittsburgh Pirates (-110)
Starting Pitchers: Mitchell Parker vs. Bailey Falter
Two clubs vying to get closer to a winning record meet on Wednesday night. It’s a battle of the southpaws as Washington gives the ball to Mitchell Parker (2-0, 1.96 ERA) and Pittsburgh grants the starting nod to Bailey Falter (0-2, 7.20). Pitchers should have the upper hand early on in this one. After all, the Nationals rank 27th in first-inning runs per away game and the Pirates rank 25th in first-inning runs per home game.
Falter will begin this quest for a scoreless opening frame. The 27-year-old has fared well against Washington in the past, posting an impressive 4-0 record and 2.76 ERA during eight appearances. He has also held his opponent scoreless in the first inning in five of his last seven starts dating back to 2024 and is inducing ground balls at a career-best rate (41.3%). This is a great spot for Falter to earn three quick outs.
Meanwhile, Nationals fans have to be pumped about what they’ve seen from Parker this campaign. The young lefty has logged three straight quality starts and each start has kicked off with a clean first inning. A matchup with a Pittsburgh squad that has posted the second-worst OPS in the league (.573) presents another chance to shine. Overall, an NRFI wager has cashed in five of Washington’s eight road contests.
Pick: NRFI (-125)
Chicago Cubs (+104) at San Diego Padres (-122)
Starting Pitchers: Matthew Boyd vs. Nick Pivetta
This pick comes with obvious risk. The Cubs and Padres boast lineups filled with powerful sluggers and on-base machines. However, there was not a first-inning run scored in either of the initial two clashes of this series. I like that trend to continue as a pair of veteran hurlers off to hot starts take the mound. All eyes will be on Chicago’s Matthew Boyd (1-1, 1.59 ERA) and San Diego’s Nick Pivetta (2-1, 1.59 ERA).
Pivetta has looked great since joining the Padres in free agency. The Canadian has logged an incredible 0.82 WHIP and has now tallied 21.1 career innings at Petco Park without a home run allowed. The Cubs were unable to cross home plate in the first inning versus Pivetta on April 5 at Wrigley Field. Expect the same result as Pivetta takes advantage of the pitcher-friendly venue in San Diego.
Chicago has recorded a first-inning team ERA of 3.32 (fifth-best in the National League). It’s a big reason the opening frame has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in 14 of the Cubs’ 20 games. Boyd has not been tagged for a first-inning run in 10 of his previous 11 starts and has limited this Padres lineup to a .238/.284/.397 slash line across 63 at-bats. Trust him to hold up his end of the bet.
Pick: NRFI (-125)