The 2026 MLB season continues on Wednesday with all 30 teams in action. Several compelling games are scheduled, including a National League Central collision between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. A divisional showdown between the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners 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 are two NRFI 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)
New York Mets (+102) at Miami Marlins (-120)
Starting Pitchers: Robert Stock vs. Janson Junk
The Mets will aim to sweep the series when they visit the Marlins on Wednesday. New York’s Robert Stock (1-3, 5.81 ERA) and Miami’s Janson Junk (6-9, 4.00 ERA) will toe the rubber.
It’s easy to understand why the Marlins are a frequent target in the NRFI department. After all, the first inning has ended with zeroes on the scoreboard in 84 of Miami’s 146 games (58%). That trails only San Diego for the highest NRFI cash rate in the Majors.
Junk has been sensational on the mound lately, allowing fewer than three earned runs in each of his past eight starts. Take note that each of those outings began with a clean opening frame.
That includes battles with top-10 offenses by OPS, like the Cubs and Red Sox. The Mets are not on that level, ranking 25th in OPS (.700) and 26th in first-inning on-base percentage (.304). Bank on Junk maintaining momentum in front of the home crowd.
New York isn’t the only disappointing offense in this divisional duel. Miami has been a bottom-10 offense in OPS (.692) and runs scored (201) since returning from the All-Star break.
Overall, the Marlins have produced the sixth-fewest first-inning runs this campaign (69). Stock has escaped the first inning unscathed in seven of his nine career starts, including when he shut down Miami in order back on August 2nd. Lock this in with confidence.
Pick: NRFI (-106)
Cleveland Guardians (-104) at Baltimore Orioles (-112)
Starting Pitchers: Foster Griffin vs. Shane Baz
Two squads jockeying for American League Wild Card positioning meet head-to-head on Wednesday. The Guardians will hand the ball to Foster Griffin (15-4, 3.26 ERA), while the Orioles counter with Shane Baz (5-15, 3.91 ERA) in the series finale.
Focusing on clashes at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has worked wonders from an NRFI perspective in 2026. There’s been a scoreless opening frame in 47 of Baltimore’s 74 home contests (64%).
Let’s keep the emphasis on lackluster offenses. The Guardians have logged the league’s second-lowest batting average on the road (.228), third-lowest OPS with runners in scoring position (.692) and fifth-lowest OPS versus right-handed pitching (.697).
They’re inconsistent from night to night. Baz has had his ups and downs this year, but he has not surrendered a first-inning run in eight of his previous 10 starts. Trust him to get the job done in this spot.
Griffin was acquired by Cleveland at the trade deadline, yet he remains underrated on a national scale. The veteran southpaw has been incredible this season, recording a 1.14 WHIP and averaging just 2.3 walks per nine innings pitched across 28 starts.
To dive deeper, Griffin boasts the seventh-lowest first-inning ERA among qualified MLB arms (1.61). Expect him to dominate an Orioles lineup that averages the second-fewest first-inning runs per home game (0.41).
Pick: NRFI (-104)
