MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (5/28)
The 2025 MLB season continues on Wednesday with all 30 teams in action. Several entertaining games are scheduled, including a National League East collision between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. A showdown between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels will surely draw attention on the American 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 peek at two MLB NRFI options that stick out from the rest on this week's hump day.
- 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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Wednesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Cincinnati Reds (-118) at Kansas City Royals (+100)
Starting Pitchers: Hunter Greene vs. Noah Cameron
The Reds will go for a sweep on Wednesday after defeating the Royals in the first two games of this series. Veteran Hunter Greene (4-2, 2.54 ERA) draws the start for Cincinnati, while rookie Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.93 ERA) toes the slab for Kansas City. It should be noted that the first inning has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in nine of the last 14 matchups between these MLB squads. Pitchers have had the advantage.
Cameron has been stellar across three MLB outings, posting a minuscule 0.67 WHIP in 19.1 innings. The 25-year-old has fired three scoreless first innings and has a great shot at lengthening that streak in an Interleague clash. The Reds rank 25th in batting average versus left-handed pitching (.216). Overall, an NRFI wager has cashed in 20 of the Royals’ 28 contests at Kauffman Stadium this campaign.
There are a few pitchers always worth considering in this market, and Greene is one of them. The All-Star right-hander has recorded an impressive 2.11 ERA over 81 opening frames in his career. Opponents have not scored against Greene during the first inning in eight of his nine starts in 2025. Trust him to take care of business facing a Kansas City offense that sports the fourth-lowest OPS in the league at home (.651).
Pick: NRFI (-138)
Minnesota Twins (-102) at Tampa Bay Rays (-116)
Starting Pitchers: Pablo Lopez vs. Drew Rasmussen
The Twins and Rays split their first two meetings to begin the week, which creates an exciting rubber match on Wednesday afternoon. It’ll be a battle between experienced righties as Minnesota’s Pablo Lopez (4-2, 2.31 ERA) and Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (3-4, 2.60 ERA) take the mound. Lopez has kept his opponent from scoring in the first inning in six of his nine starts, and Rasmussen has done so in eight of his 10 starts.
Familiarity is something Lopez can lean on in this game. The crafty hurler has limited the Rays’ roster to a .214/.241/.286 slash line and two extra-base hits through 56 at-bats. Six of his eight starts versus Tampa Bay have also featured an NRFI. Expect Lopez’s dominance to persist against a lineup that lacks depth. First baseman Jonathan Aranda is the only qualified Rays player with an on-base percentage (OBP) north of .300.
On the other side, Rasmussen is forcing ground balls at a rate of over 50% for the third straight year. It’s an important strength to highlight as home runs send NRFI bets down the drain daily. Look for Rasmussen’s focus to be on painting the edges of the zone. It would help him induce soft contact and cause whiffs. After all, the Twins have racked up the fourth-most first-inning strikeouts in the majors (62).
Pick: NRFI (-136)