MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (5/5)
All 30 MLB teams are in play today across 15 contests. There are ample games to pick from for the best MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks or MLB yes runs first inning (YRFI) picks.
An NRFI wager from a hitter-friendly venue and an NRFI pick from a pitcher-friendly venue are the most enticing options on today’s MLB slate.
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Tuesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
New York Mets (-163) at Colorado Rockies (+135) | O/U 10.0 (-108/-112)
Starting Pitchers: Freddy Peralta vs. Michael Lorenzen
I initially anticipated liking the YRFI wager for this game. Coors Field is still MLB’s most hitter-friendly venue, per the park factors info at FantasyPros. However, looking into Freddy Peralta’s and Michael Lorenzen’s data tilted the scales toward an NRFI pick.
According to FanGraphs, Peralta has a 1.84 ERA and 2.96 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter in 2026, and he had a 1.57 ERA and 3.37 xFIP last season. Peralta has also thrown a scoreless first inning in six straight starts since the Pirates jumped all over him in the first inning on Opening Day.
The projected top five hitters for the Rockies aren’t a pushover for right-handed pitchers. Still, Peralta’s early-game excellence should allow him to keep the Rockies off the board in the first inning.
Lorenzen has an ugly 6.09 ERA and 5.55 xERA in eight appearances (seven starts) this season. Despite the putrid ERA, Lorenzen has thrown a scoreless first inning in six of his seven starts in 2026, including five straight.
A disastrous start against the Phillies on April 3rd has ruined his first-time-through-the-order stats as a starter this year. However, Lorenzen had a 2.39 ERA and 3.81 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter last season.
Juan Soto is a terrifying matchup for Lorenzen from New York’s leadoff spot, but the other four hitters projected in the top five in the order have a wRC+ no higher than 110 against righties since 2024. The Mets should eventually get the better of Lorenzen, but the veteran hurler can keep them off the board in the first inning tonight.
Pick: NRFI (-115)
San Diego Padres (+113) at San Francisco Giants (-136) | O/U 7.5 (-105/-115)
Starting Pitchers: Walker Buehler vs. Logan Webb
Walker Buehler hasn’t passed for a competent starting pitcher since logging a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts for the Dodgers in 2022. He had a 5.38 ERA in 2024, a 4.93 ERA in 2025 and a 5.40 ERA this season.
For all of Buehler’s faults, he comes out of the gate hot. Buehler has a 2.63 ERA and 3.01 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter this season.
Moreover, according to Baseball-Reference, Buehler has allowed only three hits, one walk and zero runs with eight strikeouts in the first inning of six starts this season. He even threw a scoreless first inning against the Giants on March 30th.
On the other side, Logan Webb is typically sharp at home. In 135 innings at home since last season, Webb has a 3.33 ERA, 2.81 xFIP and 1.25 WHIP.
The veteran righty’s 4.40 ERA and 3.33 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter this season have left something to be desired, but he had a 2.78 ERA in 2024 and a 2.78 ERA in 2025, with a 2.79 xFIP in 2024 and a 2.48 xFIP in his first time through the order as a starter in 2025.
Moreover, Webb has allowed only one run on three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in the first inning of seven starts this year. Thus, he’s thrown a scoreless first inning in six of his seven starts, including blanking the Padres in the first inning on March 31st.
With a combined 12 scoreless first innings in 13 starts this season between Buehler and Webb, an NRFI, even at a chalky -140 line, is appealing.
Pick: NRFI (-140)
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.