MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Thursday (5/2)
Welcome to May, where the beer is cold, and the weather is warm. For those 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. It’s 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. Some pitchers also excel in the first inning due to their repertoire or mental approach. NRFI capitalizes on this. 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.
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Thursday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
Let’s dive into our top MLB NRFI picks for today’s slate of games.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | Last Time: 0-2 | MLB Season: 2-5
Cleveland Guardians @ Houston Astros
Starting Pitchers: Logan Allen vs. Spencer Arrighetti
While he may sound like a type of noodle, Spencer Arrighetti has “pasta-tively†struggled out of the gate in his rookie season. He owns a near 11.00 ERA in his 10.2 IP across his three starts and has allowed four runs in his three first innings. Considering Cleveland starts their lineup with a pair of lefties, I don't know if the rookie can hold the Guardians scoreless early. He's allowed an overall .367 batting average against him, so I expect Cleveland to jump early.
If the Guardians fail to score, Logan Allen is equally likely to blow up early. His first-inning ERA of 6.90 across his two-year career is by far his worst ERA in any inning. Righties have seen Allen well in his career, batting .273. Houston is expected to send Yordan Alvarez to the plate in the first, which always gives them the chance of going yard in the first frame. There is a lot of juice here, but this is an easy side to bet.
Play: YRFI (-125)
Washington Nationals @ Texas Rangers
Starting Pitchers: Mitchell Parker vs. Nathan Eovaldi
A true bright spot for the Nationals this season has been a rookie in Mitchell Parker, who has recorded a 1.69 ERA across his three MLB starts this year. Limiting opponents to a .224 batting average while allowing zero long balls, it feels a bit better to bet against this dangerous Texas lineup early on in the game. Corey Seager is awesome, but his .261 first-inning batting average is nothing to hide from, and I'm banking on Parker to get past Nathaniel Lowe and Marcus Semien.
Washington will go up against Nathan Eovaldi, who has a 3.00 ERA on the season and in the first inning this year. But this is more so fading the Nationals. Washington ranks dead last in runs scored in the first frame this year with eight. Their slugging percentage is .308, which is alarming, and there isn't anyone who exactly scares me early on going against Eovaldi. Book a scoreless inning to start this one
Play: NRFI (-120)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: