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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (7/2)

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The 2025 MLB season continues on Wednesday with all 30 teams in action. Several entertaining games are scheduled, including a National League collision between the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies. A clash between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays 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.

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Wednesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Milwaukee Brewers (+114) at New York Mets (-134)

Starting Pitchers: Freddy Peralta vs. Clay Holmes

Inclement weather kept this series from kicking off on Tuesday. That means a split doubleheader is in store for the fans at Citi Field on Wednesday. The afternoon game pits Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta (8-4, 2.90 ERA) against New York’s Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.97 ERA) on the mound. The NRFI records of the Brewers (46-38) and Mets (51-34) are both top-four marks in the National League.

Holmes has been remarkable in early action. The veteran right-hander has fired a scoreless first inning in 14 of his 16 outings while holding opponents to a .193 batting average. A major key to Holmes’ success has been his 53.9% ground ball rate. The Brewers are a matchup he can take advantage of as they hit ground balls at the second-highest rate in the league (45.5%) and rank 28th in first-inning home runs (seven).

Experience is what bettors should like about Peralta’s chances of getting the job done. After all, the 29-year-old has handled his business versus Juan Soto (1-for-10), Francisco Lindor (1-for-8) and Pete Alonso (1-for-7) in the past. Overall, Peralta has logged a clean opening frame in two of his three career starts facing the Mets and has posted a respectable 2.65 first-inning ERA in 2025. Trust him to triumph on the road.

Pick: NRFI (-146)

Baltimore Orioles (+126) at Texas Rangers (-148)

Starting Pitchers: Tomoyuki Sugano vs. Nathan Eovaldi

The Rangers rebounded from a 10-6 loss to the Orioles on Monday with a 10-2 victory on Tuesday. It sets up an intriguing rubber match at Globe Life Field on Wednesday. Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 1.87 ERA) draws the nod for Texas, while Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4, 4.06 ERA) toes the slab for Baltimore. The first inning has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in eight of the previous 11 meetings between these American League foes.

This is a great spot for Eovaldi to get into a groove after recently returning from a triceps injury. The Orioles sport a league-low .274 on-base percentage from the first spot in their batting order. Of course, it’s tough to score without the leadoff man getting on. Baltimore checks in 27th in first-inning runs (31). Eovaldi sports a 2.08 first-inning ERA and should have no trouble improving that number in front of the home crowd.

Eovaldi isn’t the only one to benefit from a shaky offense on the opposing side. Sugano will battle a Rangers roster that has recorded a woeful .230/.299/.375 slash line against right-handed pitching this campaign. Add to that the fact that Texas has not tallied a single first-inning run across its last 10 contests. Expect Sugano to confuse hitters by mixing up his six-pitch arsenal and finish the opening frame unscathed.

Pick: NRFI (-111)

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