Padres vs. Yankees MLB No Runs First Inning NRFI (Monday)

Monday’s MLB slate features 10 games to start the baseball week. There are plenty of ways to go for our top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions today. 

If you’re unfamiliar with NRFI bets, they’re pretty simple. We’re betting on whether or not any runs will be scored in the first inning by either team. Both starting pitchers must throw a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash. 

Let’s focus on the Padres vs. Yankees and the Mariners vs. Athletics matchups. Without further ado, let’s get to my favorite NRFI plays for Monday, May 5th’s game Padres vs. Yankees.

• MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Team View
• MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Matchup View
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
• MLB Consensus Odds

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Monday’s Best MLB No Runs First Innings (NRFI) Picks: Padres vs. Yankees 

(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)

Padres vs. Yankees 

Starting Pitchers: Nick Pivetta vs. Carlos Rodon

One of the better games on tonight's schedule features the Yankees hosting the Padres. Both offenses could make this an exciting Interleague series between two World Series contenders. Tonight, though, we're focusing on the starting pitchers who can combine for a scoreless opening frame. 

Padres starter Nick Pivetta is having an excellent season. He boasts a 1.78 ERA and 2.26 FIP with a 0.82 WHIP. The right-hander has also allowed one or zero runs in four of his six starts so far. 

Pivetta's dominance starts with excellent first-inning numbers. He's yet to allow a first-inning run through six starts with just a .143 batting average in the frame. Pivetta was also sharp in the first inning last season, with a 19-7 NRFI record and a .225 batting average against. Even against a dangerous Yankees offense on the road, Pivetta's track record and current form are hard to ignore. 

On the other side, New York starter Carlos Rodon is more of a wild card. Frankly, he's struggled in the first inning over the past two seasons. This year, though, Rodon has a 5-2 NRFI record with a .160 batting average allowed in his opening frames. 

With a 3.43 ERA and 3.01 xERA, Rodon is having his best season since 2022. Coincidentally, the southpaw posted some impressive NRFI numbers that year. He tossed a scoreless first inning in 26 of his 31 starts with a .184 batting average against. At least he has that former track record to trust despite some early-start struggles in recent years.

Pick: NRFI (-122)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: