The public cashed in yesterday with their MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks, as the top three MLB yes runs first inning (YRFI) picks in terms of money wagered and ticket count went 2-1.
MLB Most Bet YRFI/NRFI Insights @DKSports⚾️
YRFI?'?
NY Yankees vs CIN Reds
DET Tigers vs CHI White Sox
ATL Braves vs MIL BrewersYRFI🎟️
MIA Marlins vs SF Giants
ATL Braves vs MIL Brewers
TB Rays vs WAS NationalsNRFI?'?
NY Yankees vs CIN Reds
ATL Braves vs MIL Brewers
PHI...— DK Insights (@DKInsights_) June 20, 2026
Last week’s showing makes it four out of the last six weeks being profitable in our NRFI columns. I’m back to dive into some games on today’s slate for our top MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks, which, for the first time this season, is comprised of all YRFI wagers.
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Sunday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | Season: 17-18 (-3.82 units, -10.9% ROI)
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Atlanta Braves
Starting Pitchers: Robert Gasser vs. Bryce Elder
Entering this series, Atlanta had lost six out of seven games while its starting pitchers recorded an 8.48 ERA over that span. The Braves snapped a three-game losing streak on Friday with a dominant outing and quality start from Martin Perez, but I expect Milwaukee's bats to heat up when not facing a soft-tossing southpaw.
Bryce Elder has a low ceiling for strikeouts against a Brewers lineup that strikes out at the league's seventh-lowest rate (20.7%), which lowers to 20.4% and the fourth-lowest rate against right-handed pitching.
I expect the Brewers’ lineup, which ranks in the top four in both wOBA and on-base percentage (OBP) against righties, to hang some crooked numbers against Bryce Elder and shorten his outing considerably.
On the other side, Robert Gasser has made three starts against top-seven offenses and faced two bottom-10 lineups. Against the top-seven lineups, he pitched to an 8.10 ERA with five home runs allowed and a 14:8 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings.
Pick: YRFI (-113)
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago Cubs
Starting Pitchers: Dylan Cease vs. Shota Imanaga
Chicago scored a season-high 16 runs in Friday’s series opener. The Cubs also made history with seven or more runs in a single inning in consecutive games for the first time since July 2001. But it was the organization’s first time accomplishing that in two straight games at Wrigley Field since May 1984.
Pete Crow-Armstrong coming up in the first inning is a problem for the Blue Jays, given that he is on the best heater at the plate of his young career. Crow-Armstrong entered the weekend amid a career-high 22-game on-base streak, during which he batted .409 with nine home runs, 15 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 1.279 OPS.
#Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong, last 18 games extrapolated over a full season:
Batting – .447/.488/.921
Runs scored – 135
Base hits – 306
Doubles – 45
Triples – 18
Home Runs – 81
RBI – 126
Stolen Bases – 54
OPS – lower than Bonds in 2004— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) June 19, 2026
Dylan Cease leads all American League pitchers in strikeouts, but he has also allowed multiple home runs in two of his last four starts, showing regression from what is on pace to be his best career HR/9 rate (0.6). And Shota Imanaga also has a 6.00 ERA in the first inning, his worst of any of the first five innings, which adds value to this YRFI wager.
Pick: YRFI (+126)
San Diego Padres vs. Texas Rangers
Starting Pitchers: Lucas Giolito vs. Nathan Eovaldi
Texas entered this series with a 7.05 ERA and allowed 24 home runs in the first inning this season, both of which were the worst marks in the Majors. That was a big reason the Rangers were by far the most profitable YRFI team in the league, cashing it in 50 of their first 75 games and 69% of their home games.
Right on cue, Texas allowed five runs in the first inning on Friday, including Ty France’s first career grand slam. But the Rangers actually took the lead back by the end of the first frame, scoring six runs themselves.
I’m putting a lot of stock in the Padres scoring in the first, especially since Fernando Tatis Jr. entered the weekend batting .324 with six extra-base hits this month.
Pick: YRFI (+112)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.