The 2026 MLB season continues on Wednesday with 28 teams in action. Several compelling games are scheduled, including a National League collision between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. A showdown between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians 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)
San Diego Padres (+108) at Chicago Cubs (-126)
Starting Pitchers: Walker Buehler vs. Colin Rea
The Cubs aim to lock down a series sweep when they host the Padres at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. It’ll be a clash of veteran right-handers, with San Diego’s Walker Buehler (5-3, 3.81 ERA) and Chicago’s Colin Rea (5-5, 4.80 ERA) drawing the start. Take note that these squads sport the highest NRFI cash rates in baseball. There has been a scoreless first inning in 56 of the Padres’ 84 games (67%) and in 52 of the Cubs’ 86 games (60%).
Feeble offenses are at the core of those high cash rates. San Diego has logged the league’s lowest batting average (.179) and the fewest extra-base hits (17) during the first inning. Chicago has registered the league’s second-lowest OPS (.629) and the second-fewest home runs (nine) during the opening frame. Overall, the Padres rank dead last (0.33) and the Cubs rank 26th (0.42) in first-inning runs per game.
Those struggles give the starting pitchers an early advantage. Rea has posted a respectable 2.61 ERA across seven home outings and has tossed a clean first inning in nine of his 13 starts this season. Meanwhile, Buehler has recorded a 2.89 ERA in three career trips to Wrigley Field and has escaped the first inning unscathed in each of his past six starts. Trust the trends and root for quick outs in the Windy City.
Pick: NRFI (+122)
Pittsburgh Pirates (+116) at Philadelphia Phillies (-136)
Starting Pitchers: Paul Skenes vs. Zack Wheeler
Kicking off July with a victory will be the goal of the Pirates and Phillies when they battle on Wednesday. Fans are in for a treat as Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes (6-7, 3.10 ERA) and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.03 ERA) will toe the rubber at Citizens Bank Park. These pitchers faced off earlier this campaign, with the Phillies winning 6-0 on May 17th. The first inning of that contest featured six batters up and six batters down.
Not even thoracic outlet decompression surgery could take away Wheeler’s ace status. The three-time All-Star dons a career-best 0.83 WHIP through 12 starts (75.1 innings). Limiting baserunners is crucial from an NRFI perspective. It’s worth noting that Wheeler has also restricted this Pirates roster to a .188/.241/.320 slash line with just three homers in 128 at-bats. Expect him to shine in front of the home crowd.
On the other side, Skenes has held this Phillies lineup to a .167/.180/.283 slash line with only one homer in 60 at-bats. That includes keeping Trea Turner (1-for-9) and Kyle Schwarber (0-for-9) in check. His experience may not be as lengthy as Wheeler’s, but it is as impressive. Skenes has put up a stellar 2.26 first-inning ERA in his career and has thrown a scoreless opening frame in 60 of his 72 starts (83%). Back him to get the job done.
Pick: NRFI (-136)
