MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Thursday (4/18)
Baseball season is in full swing and there is no better way to gamble than on the NRFI. For that unaware, NRFI stands for No-Run First Inning. It's 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. Second, some pitchers excel in the first inning due to their repertoire or mental approach. NRFI capitalizes on this. Lastly, if you've done your research, NRFI bets can provide an edge over other markets. I'm here to help provide that edge. As always, shop around for the best odds and be on the lookout for any lineup changes or injury news. Let's get to it.
Last Time: 1-1 | MLB Season: 1-3
Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Miami Marlins (+130) at Chicago Cubs (-150)
Starting Pitchers: A.J. Puk vs. Jameson Taillon
Ready to make his 2024 debut, Taillon historically takes a bit to settle into games, owning a 6.21 ERA over the first inning last year and a 4.94 in the first inning over the past three years. A.J. Puk has recently been moved out of the bullpen and has a small data set for first-inning ERA. It's tough to look at the splits for this one because Taillon and Puk don't have much recent reliable data. What Puk does have reliable data on is how solid he is on the road with a 1.93-road ERA.
The Marlins have scored 16 runs in the first inning this year which is almost twice as many as any other inning, averaging .89 runs a game in the first inning. The Cubs on the other hand have scored nine runs an inning, averaging .53 runs a game in the opening frame. The biggest item here is the weather. The game might have already been canceled by the time you read this, which would be unfortunate, but it also should limit offense with the conditions. I'm going to ride with no runs here, as I'm going back and forth here but the weather is such a big factor.
Play: NRFI (-120)
Los Angeles Angels (+130) at Tampa Bay Rays (-155)
Starting Pitchers: Griffin Canning vs. Ryan Pepiot
I won't bury the lede here and simply say this is one of the easier Yes Run First Inning bets I've made. There's a reason it's -120 but Griffin Canning has struggled early on this year, allowing six runs in his three IP so far to start games. Last season, he had a near 5.00 ERA in the first frame. Pepiot has allowed four runs over 3.0 IP in the first IP this year and a 4.73 ERA last season. The Rays righty has also struggled at home with an 8.44 ERA in Tampa in his first few outings while Canning has allowed 11 earned runs in his 9.0 road IP this year. There's a lot of scoring to be had here and I am banking on it being in the first inning. Maybe even take some risks and have over 1.5 or 2.5 runs if you are looking for some plus-money bets.
Play: YRFI (-120)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: