MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (6/12)

The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse battles are scheduled as the New York Yankees visit the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles host the Atlanta Braves.

Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Run First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here's a look at MLB NRFI options that jump out when comparing odds on this week's hump day.

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Wednesday's Best MLB NRFI Picks

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Pittsburgh Pirates (+140) at St. Louis Cardinals (-166)

Starting Pitchers: Bailey Falter vs. Sonny Gray

Fans were treated to a pitching duel at Busch Stadium on Tuesday. It took until the ninth inning for either team to cross home plate in the Pirates’ 2-1 victory. There’s a lot to like about that momentum on the mound carrying over to Wednesday’s clash. After all, Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter and St. Louis’ Sonny Gray have combined to post a scoreless first inning in 17 of their 23 starts this year.

Gray will be tasked with getting three outs against a lineup he has extended experience against. Pittsburgh’s batters are slashing .236/.337/.375 with only six extra-base hits in 83 plate appearances against the Cardinals ace. Keep in mind Gray also possesses a dazzling 1.60 ERA and 0.861 WHIP over six home starts. This is the environment where he thrives and shuts opponents down with ease.

Falter can get smacked around at times, but he did hold the Cardinals to just two runs in 9.2 innings of work against them in 2023. The Pirates’ statistics outside of PNC Park are enough to trust the crafty left-hander. Pittsburgh allows the fifth-fewest first-inning runs on the road in the majors (0.33). That has played a massive role in an NRFI bet cashing during a whopping 24 of the team’s 33 away games.

Bet: NRFI (-125)

Toronto Blue Jays (-106) at Milwaukee Brewers (-110)

Starting Pitchers: Chris Bassitt vs. Tobias Myers

The previous recommendation was based on confidence in the starting pitchers. This one is based on a lack of confidence in the Milwaukee and Toronto offenses. The Brewers have killed rallies by tallying the third-most first-inning strikeouts at the plate (82). Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have failed to orchestrate a run in 31 of their last 33 first innings. They check in averaging the third-fewest first-inning runs in the league (0.30).

Let’s dive even deeper into Toronto’s misery in the beginning frame. Manager John Schneider’s squad checks in among the bottom five teams in first-inning batting average (.192), on-base percentage (.256) and home runs (four). Milwaukee’s Tobias Myers couldn’t ask for a much better matchup amid his recent hot streak. The 25-year-old has logged a 2.97 ERA in his last five pitching appearances.

It’s worth mentioning Milwaukee’s top hitters have struggled against Chris Bassitt in the past. The star trio of William Contreras, Christian Yelich and Willy Adames has gone a dismal 1-for-15 against the veteran hurler. Bassitt has given up one earned run across 13 first innings this season, too. There are enough eye-popping trends to make backing this NRFI bet at short odds worth a shot on Wednesday.

Bet: NRFI (-106)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: