All 30 MLB teams are in play today across 15 contests, with games beginning at 6:35 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.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Tuesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Cleveland Guardians (+101) at Baltimore Orioles (-121) | O/U 8.5 (-115/-105)
Starting Pitchers: Tanner Bibee vs. Brandon Young
Tanner Bibee versus Brandon Young isn’t a matchup of aces. They’re both merely average-ish starters.
According to FanGraphs, Bibee has a 4.06 ERA, 4.30 xERA, 4.43 xFIP and 4.45 SIERA in 29 starts this year. Not only is Bibee not an ace, but his mediocre ERA is lucky relative to his ERA estimators.
Young’s 3.42 ERA in 24 starts is notably better than Bibee’s, but Baltimore’s righty’s 4.33 xERA, 4.46 xFIP and 4.53 SIERA are all worse than Bibee’s marks. At a glance, neither would appear to be a compelling pitcher to back to throw a scoreless first inning.
However, digging deeper is much more encouraging for an NRFI. While the overall pitching numbers are unimpressive for the two righties, they’ve gotten off to decent starts in games.
Bibee has a 22-7 NRFI-YRFI record this season after going 24-7 last year. He has spun 10 straight scoreless first innings, gone 10-2 in 12 road starts and twirled five scoreless first innings on the road. Bibee also has a 3.48 ERA and 4.45 xFIP in his first time through the order this season. In addition, according to Baseball-Reference, Bibee has a 3.10 ERA in the first inning in 2026.
Meanwhile, Young has a 17-7 NRFI-YRFI record, going 8-2 in his last 10 starts and 10-3 in 13 starts at home. He also has a 3.16 ERA and 4.12 xFIP in his first time through the order and a 4.12 ERA in the first inning this year.
The team-level data is also eye-catching for a scoreless first inning. The Orioles and Guardians are tied for third in NRFI ranking, with 82-63 records (57%). Bibee and Young are unlikely to spin gems, but they should combine for an NRFI tonight.
Pick: NRFI (-105)
Tampa Bay Rays (-103) at Atlanta Braves (-117) | O/U 8.5 (-103/-117)
Starting Pitchers: Freddy Peralta vs. AJ Smith-Shawver
Freddy Peralta has had a wretched 2026 campaign, his worst since making eight starts and 31 relief appearances in 2019. He has a 4.96 ERA, 3.90 xERA, 4.29 xFIP and 4.22 SIERA in 28 starts this season.
The 30-year-old righty has been a mess on the road. In 13 road starts in 2026, he has a 6.19 ERA and 4.45 xFIP.
In addition, Peralta isn’t putting his best foot forward, either. He has an 18-10 NRFI record this season. He’s gone 3-5 in his last eight starts and 6-7 on the road, going 2-7 after opening up with four straight scoreless first innings on the road this season.
AJ Smith-Shawver has a 4-0 NRFI record this year. Yet, he went 5-4 in nine starts in 2025.
Smith-Shawver’s scoreless first innings are about the only positive in his statistical profile, too. He has a 7.13 ERA, 4.33 xERA, 5.23 xFIP and 5.30 SIERA in his four starts for the Braves. Peralta and Smith-Shawver have pitched poorly this year, and at least one of them should cough up a run in the first inning tonight.
Pick: YRFI (-130)
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.