The 2026 MLB season continues on Wednesday with all 30 teams in action. Several compelling games are scheduled, including a National League collision between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs. A divisional showdown between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays will surely draw attention on the American League side. Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without sweating through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks for a quick result. Here’s a look at two picks that stick out from the rest on this week’s hump day.
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Wednesday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Boston Red Sox (+100) at Kansas City Royals (-118)
Starting Pitchers: Connelly Early vs. Michael Wacha
The Red Sox will attempt to earn a series sweep over the Royals on Wednesday evening. Boston’s Connelly Early (3-2, 3.21 ERA) draws the start, opposite Kansas City’s Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.83 ERA).
These squads have been steady successes in the NRFI department. The first inning has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in 26 of the Red Sox’s 48 games (54%) and 29 of the Royals’ 49 games (59%). Those are both top-10 cash rates.
Struggling offenses are the key to this pick.
Boston has logged the second-lowest first-inning OPS in the Majors (.599) and has failed to produce a run during the opening frame in 34 of its 37 clashes with a right-handed pitcher.
Meanwhile, Kansas City has recorded the second-lowest OPS with runners in scoring position (.655) and has failed to produce a run during the opening frame in 10 of its 13 battles with a left-handed pitcher.
There are reasons to trust the arms toeing the rubber, too. Wacha has tossed a scoreless first inning in nine of his past 10 starts and boasts a 2.33 ERA across five career outings versus the Red Sox.
On the other side, Early has escaped the first inning unscathed in nine of his 13 MLB performances and sports a dazzling 2.23 career ERA on the road. The trends are all pointing in one direction. Bettors should not hesitate to follow.
Pick: NRFI (-120)
Los Angeles Dodgers (-178) at San Diego Padres (+150)
Starting Pitchers: Shohei Ohtani vs. Randy Vasquez
An intriguing rubber match is set for Wednesday after the Dodgers and Padres split their first two contests to kick off the week.
The series finale pits Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani (3-2, 0.82 ERA) and San Diego’s Randy Vasquez (5-1, 2.68 ERA) against each other on the mound. Pitchers have had the upper hand early on at Petco Park, as 16 of the stadium’s 25 first innings in 2026 have featured zero runs (64%).
The star power at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup can scare NRFI bettors away at times. However, the Dodgers rank as a bottom-10 team in OPS (.699) and extra-base hits (14) in the first inning. They are far from invincible.
Vasquez has kept opponents from crossing home plate in the opening frame in 46 of his 60 career starts. The fourth-year pro has also held batters leading off an inning to a .239/.314/.348 slash line this campaign.
Ohtani was highlighted in this article last Wednesday before he shut down the Giants in a scoreless first inning. It was the 14th straight start that began with a clean opening frame for the Japanese phenom.
The Red Sox’s first-inning ineptitude was pointed out above. Well, the Padres are the one roster with a worse first-inning OPS (.488) than Boston. Trust Ohtani to take charge in a favorable matchup.
Pick: NRFI (-128)
