MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (9/25)
The 2024 MLB season continues with all 30 teams in action on Wednesday. A few powerhouse battles are scheduled as the Baltimore Orioles visit the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres.
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) tickets for a quick result. Here's a look at MLB NRFI options that jump out when comparing odds on this week's hump day.
- 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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Wednesday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Kansas City Royals (-118) at Washington Nationals (+100)
Starting Pitchers: Michael Lorenzen vs. DJ Herz
It took 10 innings for a single run to be scored in Tuesday’s opener between the Royals and Nationals. More pitching dominance can be expected on Wednesday given the offensive status of these squads. Kansas City and Washington rank among the bottom three teams in runs scored during September. The bats are cold as Michael Lorenzen (7-6, 3.43 ERA) and DJ Herz (4-8, 4.30 ERA) are set to take the mound.
Herz has certainly had his ups and downs as a rookie hurler. However, his poise in the opening frame has been stellar. The 23-year-old has surrendered a minuscule .169 batting average in 18 first innings. He has also held his opponent scoreless through the first inning in nine of his 11 home starts. Keep in mind Herz draws a matchup against a Royals roster that averages the third-fewest first-inning runs per road game (0.32).
A quick top of the inning would leave this wager dependent on Lorenzen. The veteran right-hander is returning from a hamstring strain after conceding one earned run across 3.1 innings in a Triple-A rehab appearance. Overall, Lorenzen has finished the first inning unscathed in four of his five starts since joining Kansas City. An NRFI wager has cashed in 49 of the Royals’ 76 home contests (64.5%) this campaign. Lock it in.
Bet: NRFI (-118)
New York Mets (+158) at Atlanta Braves (-188)
Starting Pitchers: David Peterson vs. Chris Sale
Talk about an intense showdown. A playoff berth remains up for grabs when the Mets and Braves meet at Truist Park on Wednesday night. New York is turning to David Peterson (9-3, 3.08 ERA) and Atlanta is trusting Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) to earn a victory. It’s worth noting no one crossed home plate in the first inning in nine of the previous 11 games between these National League East foes.
There’s a reason Sale is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award. The All-Star southpaw checks in atop the NL leaderboard in strikeouts (225) and home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5). That’s scary for the Mets considering they have racked up the fourth-most strikeouts in first innings this year (175). An ability to stop rallies by causing whiffs has helped Sale avoid being tagged for a first-inning run in each of his last nine starts.
Peterson is part of a New York pitching staff that leads the sport with a 2.69 first-inning ERA. Individually, Peterson has recorded an impressive 0.45 ERA over 20 first innings and has valuable experience versus Atlanta’s top hitters. The group of Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, and Matt Olson has gone just 10-for-55 (.182) in past clashes with Peterson. Sit back and root for early outs here.
Bet: NRFI (-142)