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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Sunday (6/28)

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From an MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks perspective, Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski might be worth every penny in his next start. The NL Cy Young Award favorite was amped up early in his Friday start, throwing 12 pitches at 102-plus MPH in the first inning. That was the most pitches at that velocity in the first inning since pitch tracking began in 2008.

I’m back to dive into some games on today’s slate for our top MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks. I have a much better balanced portfolio after last week’s full plate of YRFI wagers. 

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          Sunday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks

          Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | Season: 18-19 (-3.94 units, -10.6% ROI)

          Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 

          Starting Pitchers: Brady Singer vs. Mitch Keller

          Cincinnati’s offense saw a nice breakout for six runs in Friday’s series-opening win. That matched its scoring output from the prior three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh entered the series ranked fourth in runs per game (5.1), 14th in home runs (96), and third in OPS (.746). Those are huge improvements from last year’s marks, where it ranked 30th in runs per game (3.6), home runs (117), and OPS (.655).

          Each pitcher has had trouble with members of the opposing lineup that bats atop the batting order. Spencer Steer and Bryan Reynolds have a 1.167 and 1.359 OPS, respectively, off of Mitch Keller and Brady Singer. Reynolds in particular is amid a 32-game on-base streak (and 17-game hit streak). He should put pressure early on Singer who has pitched to a 6.00 ERA and .306 OBA in the first inning of 15 starts this year.

          Pick: YRFI (-118)

          Seattle Mariners vs. Cleveland Guardians

          Starting Pitchers: George Kirby vs. Gavin Williams 

          Following Friday’s 3-1 series-opening win, Seattle had scored three or fewer runs in 12 consecutive games. This is what Baseball Reference ambassador Jessica Brand dug up on X on where that ranked all-time.

          Seattle is the most reliant team on offensive production coming via the home run, and Gavin Williams has only allowed three first inning homers in 16 starts this season. Instead, I am banking on him generating plenty of whiffs early given that his 10.3 K/9 rate is on pace for a career best.

          Meanwhile, George Kirby should draw confidence from three straight quality starts. He pitched to a 20:5 K:BB ratio and didn’t allow a first inning run in any of them.

          Pick: NRFI (-146)

          Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants

          Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale vs. Robbie Ray

          It’s a matchup of elite southpaws in the Bay Area as Chris Sale opposes Robbie Ray. A pessimistic view on Ray would be that he has allowed four or more runs in two of his last three home starts. However, the optimistic view is that he enters amid a 14.1 inning scoreless streak spanning two starts, during which he has allowed just four hits and struck out 14. This is what he has done outside of a rough start at Arizona where he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 10 runs.

          Chris Sale should dominate a Giants lineup that entered the series ranked 13th in the National League at 4.1 runs per game, and one that was tied for the tenth-most home runs of 15 NL teams. He has not allowed a single run in 15 career innings at Oracle Park. 

          Pick: NRFI (-152)

          Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.

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