MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Thursday (7/30)
The 2026 MLB season rolls on. Thursday brings a decent 10-game slate, with games running all afternoon and into the night. Let’s dive into the top MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks to lock in before the games get going.
If you're unfamiliar with NRFI bets, here's a quick explanation: We're simply betting that neither team will score a run in the first inning. That means we have a 0-0 score after both teams bat in the opening frame. Conversely, you can also bet on the YRFI (Yes Runs First Inning) side. Without further ado, let's jump into today's best MLB NRFI picks.
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Thursday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Starting Pitchers: Bryan Woo vs. Roki Sasaki
Let's lead off our MLB NRFI picks with an Interleague matchup between the Dodgers and Mariners. We have Bryan Woo starting for Seattle, while Roki Sasaki toes the rubber for Los Angeles. Both pitchers bring in strong first-inning numbers to trust.
Sasaki owns an excellent 15-3 NRFI record this season (83%). That includes an 8-1 NRFI mark at home so far. He's also allowing just a .203 batting average in the opening frame. The Dodgers right-hander is prone to running into trouble in later innings, but he's been mostly dominant from the get-go.
Sasaki can keep it going in a favorable matchup tonight. The Mariners have just a .201 first-inning batting average this season, ranking 29th in the Majors. They also rank 27th in first-inning runs scored. Plus, Seattle has a league-worst .077 batting average and .165 wOBA in the opening frame in July.
Meanwhile, Woo owns an impressive 17-3 NRFI record this season (85%). That includes a 9-2 NRFI mark on the road. The Mariners righty has a subpar 4.37 ERA this season and some shaky outings lately. However, all we care about is him getting through the first inning.
On that note, Woo's strong NRFI numbers this year can be trusted. He posted just a 19-11 NRFI record last season, but has tossed a scoreless first inning in 17 of his 20 starts so far in 2026. That’s tough to ignore. Plus, he posted an 18-4 NRFI record just two seasons ago. As for the Dodgers, they're batting only .139 in the opening frame since the All-Star break, ranking 29th in the Majors during this stretch.
Pick: NRFI (-115)
New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox
Starting Pitchers: Ryan Weathers vs. Sean Burke
Our second NRFI pick today features the series finale between the Yankees and White Sox. It'll be Ryan Weathers on the mound for New York, while Sean Burke starts for Chicago. This is an under-the-radar NRFI spot to target.
Burke brings in a solid 12-5 NRFI record this season (70%). That includes four straight scoreless first innings and a 7-3 NRFI record over his last 10 starts. More notably, the matchup is favorable. The Yankees sport just a .175 batting average and .221 wOBA in the opening frame during July, both of which rank 29th in the Majors.
Plus, Burke has been pitching well lately. The White Sox right-hander boasts a 1.61 ERA and 2.40 FIP over his last seven outings. He also has a 2.48 ERA over his past 11 appearances. Meanwhile, New York’s lineup is batting .214 on the road in the first inning.
On the other side, Weathers is the bigger wild card for the NRFI equation. The Yankees southpaw has tossed a scoreless opening frame in 12 of his 20 starts so far (60%). That's not very trustworthy. However, Weathers previously posted a 22-2 NRFI mark over the past two seasons combined. He also owns a career 75% NRFI rate as a starter.
Weathers will face a Chicago lineup that has a .218 batting average in the first inning this season, ranking 27th in the Majors. That includes a subpar .222 batting average versus left-handers in the opening frame (23rd in the Majors).
Pick: NRFI (-125)