As the weekend approaches, baseball fans are treated to a fresh slate of matchups, each with intrigue and promise for a scoreless first inning. The No Runs First Inning (NRFI) market is gaining traction, and with good reason - pitchers who excel at silencing offenses early are set to take the mound in several key games.
Whether it’s the dominant stuff of Jeffrey Springs and Luis Castillo or the veteran poise of Charlie Morton and Kevin Gausman, Friday’s MLB action is loaded with opportunities to bet on early-game pitching dominance. Let's break down the top NRFI picks for today's slate and explore the potential for a quiet start to these intriguing matchups.
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Team View
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Matchup View
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- MLB Consensus Odds
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Friday’s Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks
This Season: 0-0 | Last Week: 0-0
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners
Starting Pitchers: Jeffrey Springs vs. Luis Castillo
Jeffrey Springs and Luis Castillo brought their A-game to the mound with impressive NRFI stats last season. Springs boasts a stellar 91% NRFI rate, while Castillo follows closely with an 88% NRFI mark, promising a tight opening frame.
Adding intrigue to the matchup, both teams were held scoreless yesterday and failed to record a hit in the first inning, suggesting the starters could once again set the tone early.
Play: NRFI (-125 on Bet365)
Detroit Tigers @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Starting Pitchers: Jack Flaherty vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The matchup between Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto offers a compelling NRFI opportunity. Flaherty enters with a solid 73% NRFI rate last season, showcasing his ability to stifle offenses early.
At the same time, Yamamoto, despite a smaller sample size, holds a 70% NRFI mark and is a perfect 1-for-1 this season. The Dodgers' lineup adds further fuel to the NRFI fire as they've yet to cross the plate in the first inning this season, setting the stage for a potential pitcher's duel.
Play: NRFI (-130 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Baltimore Orioles @ Toronto Blue Jays
Starting Pitchers: Charlie Morton vs. Kevin Gausman
We have one more matchup between pitchers that had a 70+% NRFI hit rate last season in Charlie Morton and Kevin Gausman. Morton brings a reliable 73% NRFI rate to the table, while Gausman edges him out slightly with a 74% NRFI clip.
However, the Orioles did manage to score in the first inning yesterday. Despite this, Morton and Gausman’s veteran arms could still clamp down, making this a potentially sweaty first inning.
Play: NRFI (-115 on Bet365)
For more betting content, follow me on X @GUMP7285.
