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've taken a step back recently, but with such a great season, we're still well ahead for the year. Let's dive into some games for Friday, September 18th.
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Friday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 42-29
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Starting Pitchers: Randy Dobnak vs. Paul Skenes
First off, it may not be the most exciting game going, but the odds are surprising given the pitching matchup. Paul Skenes is...well, Paul Skenes. He may not be as elite as in previous seasons, but he's still limiting opponents to a .209 batting average in the opening frame, with a 3.06 ERA over his last six games.
In the last month of play, Kansas City's offense ranks 19th in runs scored, so it's not exactly scary either. Randy Dobnak has been even better, with a 0.82 first-inning ERA over his 11 starts, allowing just one run while opponents have posted a .581 OPS. This is basically a coin flip in odds, but I would've expected this to sit closer to -140 on the NRFI, so I'm jumping on it.
Play: NRFI (-113 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels
Starting Pitchers: Connor Prielipp vs. Grayson Rodriguez
Next up, we have the Twins, who are technically still fighting for a playoff spot, but I expect the offense to dominate here. Grayson Rodriguez starts for the Angels, and the former top prospect has been struggling this season, posting an ERA over 6.00 and allowing opponents to hit .329 against him in the opening frame, with a whopping .942 OPS.
Pair that with the Twins ranking fourth in first-inning runs this year, and I expect to see some offense. On the other side, you have the southpaw Connor Prielipp, who already takes a step back on the road. His first-inning ERA is 6.30, and he will face a lineup of righties, including Mike Trout. If you can find plus odds, then that's even better, but either way, I'm expecting some early runs here.
Play: YRFI (-105 at Hard Rock Bet)
New York Yankees vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole vs. Eduardo Rodriguez
Finally, we have an Interleague game that is between two squads battling for playoff spots. Of course, the Yankees have already clinched a spot, but they're still trying to lock up home-field advantage while catching up with the Rays. Arizona, meanwhile, is fighting for their lives.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been elite with a 2.62 ERA but owns a 6.60 ERA in the opening frame, allowing a .954 OPS in the first inning. That's tough against Aaron Judge and company. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole has a 6.48 ERA over his last three starts, so he's got stuff to figure out as well, which I can see leading to some early runs. Again, try to find a plus-odds option here, as I'm going for another yes runs first inning (YRFI) wager.
Play: YRFI (-105 at Hard Rock Bet)
