MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (8/14)

The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse battles are scheduled as the Kansas City Royals visit the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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 MLB NRFI options that stick out when comparing odds on this week's hump day.

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

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Pittsburgh Pirates (+114) at San Diego Padres (-135)

Starting Pitchers: Mitch Keller vs. Martin Perez

Elite pitching has been displayed in this series as the Pirates and Padres have totaled only six runs through two games. That’s not a major shock. After all, San Diego has recorded the best team ERA over the last 30 days (3.02) and Pittsburgh allows the third-fewest first-inning runs on the road overall (0.33). Mitch Keller (10-6, 3.56 ERA) and Martin Perez (2-5, 4.78 ERA) are the listed starters on Wednesday.

Perez has proven reliable with a 3.00 ERA spread across 18 first-innings. The established southpaw should have some extra juice, too, given he faces the squad that traded him at the deadline. This is an advantageous matchup regardless of that storyline considering the Pirates average the second-fewest first-inning runs (0.36) and rank 29th in on-base percentage (.302). Expect a quick three outs to begin this clash.

That leaves Keller to determine the result of this pick. The sixth-year pro has held his opponent scoreless in 18 of his 23 starts this campaign. The Padres have regularly had Luis Arraez, Jurickson Profar and Jake Cronenworth atop the lineup. Those three have combined to hit .192 in 26 career at-bats against Keller. To drive the point home, an NRFI wager has cashed in 40 of the Pirates’ 60 road contests (66.7%).

Bet: NRFI (-120)

St. Louis Cardinals (-112) at Cincinnati Reds (-108)

Starting Pitchers: Kyle Gibson vs. Emilio Pagan

The Reds will attempt to sweep the division-rival Cardinals on Wednesday. Cincinnati is opting to go with an opener in reliever Emilio Pagan (2-3, 4.22 ERA) before Carson Spiers (4-4, 4.45 ERA) takes over in a bulk role. Meanwhile, St. Louis hands the baseball to veteran Kyle Gibson (7-4, 3.99 ERA). The first inning has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in six of the nine showdowns between these squads in 2024.

The strategy for starting Pagan is clear. The right-hander is accustomed to having his main focus be one clean inning and has surrendered only a single hit to this Cardinals roster in 17 at-bats. It benefits Pagan that St. Louis has also logged the fourth-worst OPS in the National League during the last month of play (.700). Take note that a scoreless first inning has been posted in 38 of the Reds’ 61 home games (62.2%).

Gibson has kept his competitors from crossing home plate in the first inning in seven of his previous nine starts. The 36-year-old has limited Cincinnati’s biggest bats in the past as well. That includes Elly De La Cruz (1-for-6), Jonathan India (1-for-7) and Spencer Steer (1-for-5). Of course, the absence of mistakes is crucial for NRFI bets. The Cardinals have tallied the fourth-fewest errors in the sport (53), so there’s a lot to like here.

Bet: NRFI (-105)

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