MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Bet Odds & Picks: Thursday (10/10)
The playoffs have been rolling and we have two American League elimination games tonight. The No Runs First Inning (NRFI) market is a popular betting market where gamblers wager on whether the first inning of an MLB game will end with zero runs scored by either team. Pretty simple. These bets heavily depend on the starting pitchers and consider factors like pitcher stats, team tendencies, ballpark conditions and weather.
Some teams consistently score early, while others struggle. NRFI bets are the best because they're quick - sometimes you'll know the outcome within minutes. NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets if you have done proper research. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for lineup announcements, which can change a lot.
Let's dive deep into today’s slate.
- 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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Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Last Time: 0-1 | MLB Season: 29-21 | Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Cleveland Guardians at Detroit Tigers
Starting Pitchers: Tanner Bibee vs. TBA
We only know one starter for today's game at the time of writing. The odds are out, which offers a slight value before any certain starter is listed. A.J. Hinch mentioned deploying pitching chaos when anyone not named Tarik Skubal takes the mound for Detroit. Expecting an opener, I can't say I'm worried against the Guardians offense. Cleveland hasn't scored in two consecutive games now and momentum in the playoffs is a real thing. That's why all but two of the teams in the Wild Card Series who won the first game won the series, like the Tigers over Houston.
The Tigers’ offense hasn't exactly been electric. Guardians starter Tanner Bibee owns a 2.45 ERA in his last five games and was outstanding in his first start on Saturday, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings en route to the Guardians shutting out Detroit on Saturday. I think tonight might be a similar result.
Play: NRFI (-140)
New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals
Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole vs. Michael Wacha
I'll keep this one short and sweet and explain why -120 is great value to take this NRFI. Gerrit Cole takes the bump for New York in this elimination game. Even though he struggled in his first start, he still didn't allow a first-inning run. Throughout the season it was more of the same. Cole owned a 1.06 ERA in the opening frame this season and pitched better on the road.
Michael Wacha owns similar splits. His 2.17 ERA in the first inning has held opponents to a .214 batting average and also held the Yankees scoreless in the opening frame last time out. New York's first-inning scoring has been solid but their offense takes a dip on the road. I trust his splits here and trust he should keep New York scoreless. Aaron Judge is 1-for-18 against Wacha in his career and Gleyber Torres is 1-for-16. The combination of splits and past matchups makes -120 a great price here.
Play: NRFI (-120)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: