MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Friday (8/14)
Welcome to another beautiful day as we are officially into the second half of the baseball season. Let's bet on some MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks. 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 done your research. 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 hit a +300 first-inning Moneyline last week and have been crushing it all season. Let's dive into some of today’s games for our MLB NRFI picks.
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Friday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 2-1 | Season: 37-17
Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros
Starting Pitchers: George Kirby vs. Peter Lambert
Starting with the battle of the American League West, the Houston Astros host the Seattle Mariners. George Kirby goes for Seattle, and he's been money this year with only one run allowed across his last 12 innings.
More importantly, Kirby has a 2.45 ERA in the first inning, allowing six earned runs across 22 starts. He's also elite against the Astros, allowing a .605 OPS against the projected starting lineup.
Peter Lambert counters for Houston, and he's been even better in the opening frame with a 1.80 ERA. Opponents have just hit .211 with a .570 OPS in the first inning off him and a 2.29 overall ERA in his last seven starts.
Seattle is also a bottom-four team in first-inning scoring, so I'm especially not as worried about the Mariners getting first-inning runs. The fact that the odds are what they are is a little surprising, so don't be afraid to jump on them before they move.
Play: NRFI (-113 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole vs. Shane Bieber
A second matchup we have is the New York Yankees traveling to our neighbors in the north as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Gerrit Cole gets the start for the Yankees, and since returning, he's been solid with a 3.35 ERA in his 14 starts this season.
In the first inning, Cole’s ERA sits at 1.93, and opponents are batting .128 against him in the opening frame with a .499 OPS. The Blue Jays also rank dead last in first-inning runs offensively. I'd be shocked if Toronto scores in the opening frame.
Shane Bieber, on the other hand, hasn't been great to start games with an 8.31 ERA in the first inning across nine starts. Opponents have a 1.002 OPS in the first inning, and Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-6 lifetime against Bieber. I'm going to take the Yankees straight up in the first inning here, but if you want to play shorter odds, just go with a YRFI.
Play: YRFI (+110 at bet365)
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Starting Pitchers: Robert Gasser vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Finally, tonight we have two National League heavy hitters going at each other. Robert Gasser has been solid so far this season in the opening frame with a first-inning 3.46 ERA.
Opponents have hit .208 against him, and as a southpaw, it helps that he's facing two lefties at the top of the lineup. Lefties are hitting just .178 off Gasser, so I feel better about the solid Dodgers top of the lineup being limited.
Yamamoto has been equally elite with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.98 ERA over his last two starts. The Brewers also take a step back offensively away from home, and despite the powerful offense, they still rank outside of the top 10 in first-inning runs. I'll be fading early run production in this one.
Play: NRFI (-115 at bet365)