MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (6/16)
All 30 MLB teams are in play today across 15 contests, with games beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET. There are ample contests to pick from for the best MLB no runs first inning (NRFI) picks or MLB yes runs first inning (YRFI) picks.
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Tuesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
New York Mets (-126) at Cincinnati Reds (+108) | O/U 9.5 (-106/-114)
Starting Pitchers: Kodai Senga vs. Brady Singer
Kodai Senga has thrown a scoreless first inning in four of five starts this year. However, that’s one of the few good things that can be said about his work in 2026.
According to FanGraphs, Senga has a 9.00 ERA, 4.75 xERA, 4.90 xFIP and 4.70 SIERA in five starts this season. This will be his first start off the injured list (IL) since allowing three runs in only 2.2 innings against the Rockies on April 26th.
Senga was also lousy at the highest level of the minors on his rehab assignment, with a 5.19 ERA, 5.63 xERA and 5.34 xFIP in two starts in Triple-A. Senga was rocked by all hitters earlier in the season, ceding a .467 wOBA to 49 left-handed batters and a .365 wOBA to 48 right-handed batters in 2026.
The veteran righty doesn’t have the easiest assignment tonight, either. Three of Cincinnati’s projected top five hitters have posted at least a 107 wRC+ against righties since 2024.
JJ Bleday and Sal Stewart stand out as the most imposing challenges for Senga, batting second and third, respectively. Additionally, Great American Ball Park’s 1.039 park factor for homers is tied for the eighth-highest mark, using FantasyPros’ three-year average.
Senga might not even need to give up a run for the YRFI inning to cash. Instead, Brady Singer could take care of that in the top of the first inning. Singer has allowed a run in the first inning in eight of his 13 starts in 2026. He’s given up runs in the first inning in his previous two starts and three of his past four.
Singer is a trainwreck against lefties. He’s allowed a .366 wOBA to 578 left-handed batters since 2025. Four of New York’s projected top five hitters are left-handed batters. The Mets should hang a run on the Reds in the first inning, but the Reds can bring the YRFI home if New York doesn’t do so in the top of the first inning.
Pick: YRFI (-118)
Baltimore Orioles (+126) at Seattle Mariners (-148) | O/U 7.5 (-118/-104)
Starting Pitchers: Brandon Young vs. Logan Gilbert
Brandon Young has been sharp in the first inning this season, throwing a scoreless first inning in seven of his 10 starts.
However, Young has been rather lucky this year. His 3.04 ERA in 10 starts doesn’t stand up upon scrutiny. The righty’s 4.40 xERA, 4.64 xFIP and 4.66 SIERA are much less flattering. In addition, Young has allowed a .343 wOBA to 283 left-handed batters and a .323 wOBA to 212 right-handed batters since last season.
Young has a tricky matchup in the first inning tonight, too, especially with Cal Raleigh (131 wRC+ versus righties since 2024) expected to be activated from the IL. Four of Seattle’s projected top five hitters have posted at least a 116 wRC+ against righties since 2024.
Logan Gilbert is the A-side of this pitching matchup, and he’s quite good at home. He does have a fly in the ointment, though. Gilbert is dreadful in the first inning.
Gilbert has allowed a run in the first inning in seven of his 14 starts this season, including allowing one against the Orioles in his last start in Baltimore on June 9th. Gilbert has also allowed a run in the first inning in five of his eight starts at home. Per Baseball-Reference, Gilbert has allowed nine runs and a .914 OPS in the first inning in 2026.
Gilbert also has a matchup that can trip him up in the first inning tonight. Four of Baltimore’s projected top five hitters have recorded at least a 105 wRC+ against righties since 2024. Between Young and Gilbert, at least one of them should allow a run in the first inning.
Pick: YRFI (+104)
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.