Welcome to another beautiful day as the sun is shining, baseball is in literal full swing, and life is good. Let's bet some NRFI's! NRFI stands for No-Run First Inning. It's a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of an MLB game will end with zero runs scored by either team. Pretty simple. NRFI bets are the best because they're quick – sometimes you'll know the outcome within minutes. NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets if you’ve researched. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for lineup announcements, which can significantly impact the outcome.
We cooled off a bit last week, but did hit a plus-dds YRFI, so it wasn't the worst week. Let's dive into some games on this June 5th slate.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Friday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 20-8
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Starting Pitchers: Sonny Gray vs. Ryan Weathers
Let's start this out with a bang between the best rivalry in baseball. It would be a bit more exciting if Boston was good, but nonetheless, it should be a fun matchup. Both pitchers boast a sub 3.55 ERA this year, but the splits tell a bit of a different story. Sonny Gray may have a 6-1 record, but his ERA drops on the road to 3.60, allowing opponents to hit .280 off him. What's worse is that in the first inning, he has a 4.50 ERA. Aaron Judge may be out, but this is still a dangerous top of the lineup, including Trent Grisham, who has gone 4-for-7 off Gray lifetime. On the other side, Ryan Weathers has really struggled in the opening frame with a 6.55 ERA, allowing a .982 OPS against him to open up games. He also has reverse splits, so despite his southpaw nature, he's allowing lefties to bat .300 against him, who he will likely see a pair of to start the game. Both offenses rank inside the top-10 at YRFI rate, and I want to see some fireworks, so there may be some narrative bias for me, too. Either way, I love this bet at plus odds if you can find it.
Play: YRFI (+100 FanDuel)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Texas Rangers
Starting Pitchers: Parker Messick vs. Kumar Rocker
We're gonna get a bit weird just so you don't think I'm only taking juiced NRFI plays. First things first, the Rangers aren't scoring in the first inning. If you want to bet 5U on them under first inning runs at whatever book offers it, I'd support that play. Parker Messick takes the bump for Cleveland, and he's been straight money. Not only does he have a 1.91 road ERA, but he's yet to allow a first inning run this entire year across 12 starts, limiting opponents to a mere .122 batting average and .371 OPS. Not bad. The southpaw also has reverse splits, so three of the top four righties at the top of the order will likely have trouble. The other side of the coin is a bit different. Kumar Rocker will start for Texas, and he's been rocky to start games. He's allowed 11 runs in 10 starts in the opening frame with opponents slashing .326/.412/.488 off him. Rocker will also face four lefties to start, most likely, who hit him better, so Cleveland lines up well to score early. With the difference here, I'm happy finding a longshot bet and taking the Guardians’ first inning moneyline.
Play: Guardians 1st Inning ML (+320 FanDuel)
Athletics vs. Houston Astros
Starting Pitchers: Jack Perkins vs. Peter Lambert
Finally, the Athletics continue their road trip as they travel south to take on the Houston Astros. For me, I don't get the current odds. Peter Lambert takes the bump for Houston, and he's been electric to start games, allowing just two runs in his eight starts this year, with opponents tallying a .648 OPS off him. No one in the expected top three of the Athletics lineup has faced Lambert, either, which helps the pitcher in my mind. Jack Perkins will earn his first start of the year, and while his ERA isn't anything to write home about, he's done well in his first innings pitched so far, holding opponents to a .574 OPS in his first inning of appearance this year. The Astros are also unfamiliar with Perkins, so there should be some adjustments on both sides to each respective pitcher. Which is why I expected these odds to be a lot shorter on the NRFI side. But I'm not complaining.
Play: NRFI (-105 DraftKings)
