Every day the team at BetQL has you covered with our favorite NRFI picks for today's MLB games. Find which games we love and why we think they are the best NRFI bets for today. You will get our picks, expert analysis, and the best line available. Tail us on our No Runs First Inning picks and let's get six out to cash out!
Every day the team at BetQL has you covered with our favorite NRFI picks for today's MLB games. Find which games we love and why we think they are the best NRFI bets for today. You will get our picks, expert analysis, and the best line available. Tail us on our No Runs First Inning picks and let's get six out to cash out!
Angels at Rays NRFI (-110, BetMGM)
We went 1-2 in this article yesterday unfortunately, but if you follow me on X (@Sharp_Side_), then you also took the Cleveland vs. Boston NRFI to make it a 2-2 day. I post extra plays on there all the time throughout the day when I see line moves or something I really like, and back it up by posting my bet slip to show I'm betting these plays along with you. If you are going to tail, I'd highly suggest following me there for updates and live bets!
Today, we have a really trash MLB slate with only five games. Honestly, I don't love any NRFIs as I am going through the board early this morning, so both of my plays today will be for just a quarter-unit. Taking this one is certainly a risk with two starting pitchers in Griffin Canning and Ryan Pepiot, who have struggled so far, but I think it is worth a small play on simply because neither offense is that strong in these splits.
Los Angeles and Tampa Bay are both middle-of-the-pack offensively against right-handed pitching, so they aren't some huge threat to score a ton of runs right off the bat. Am I worried about Mike Trout? Absolutely, which is why this NRFI is only worth a sprinkle.
Diamondbacks at Giants NRFI (-114, BetRivers)
Again, I am not super-thrilled about this NRFI either, but it is the only other one that I would consider taking while I look at the board this morning. That could change as we get closer to the first pitch for some of these games, but right now, this is what I am going with for a quarter-unit as well.
RHP Ryne Nelson gets the start for Arizona, while Logan Webb takes the mound for San Francisco. It's been a struggle for Nelson early, allowing eight earned runs over his first 13.2 innings of work, but he gets a Giants offense that is mediocre against right-handers. Webb has been solid to this point, allowing 10 earned runs over his first 23.2 innings, and he also gets a D-backs lineup that is very mid against righties.
This is just fading some very average offenses in the first inning, but I wouldn't risk much here.
In baseball betting, NRFI stands for "No Run First Inning." It's a wager on how many runs will be scored in the first inning, with the focus being on zero runs being scored in the first inning!
Essentially, you're betting for there to be six outs recorded before any runs are scored. NRFI has become a popular betting option because it offers a quick result – you only need to wait for the first inning to be over.
MLB games are a toss-up in the first inning when it comes to scoring. Roughly half the time, no runs are scored by either team in the opening frame. This might seem surprising considering the overall offensive increase in baseball. The reason for this quirk isn't entirely clear, but it happens around 50% of the time.
Winning NRFI bets requires a keen eye on pitching matchups, team situations, and a tiny bit of luck. If you are looking to be more successful at NRFI bets, here are a few ways to improve your odds:
With the 2024 MLB season still young, pinpointing the current best pitchers for No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets can be tricky. We simply haven't seen enough games from each pitcher to establish a clear trend. However, to help you make informed decisions, we've provided some insights from the 2023 season.
The Miami Marlins dominated No Runs First Inning (NRFI) bets last season for a confluence of reasons:
Strong Pitching Staff: The core statistic behind their success was a dominant pitching staff. Their 97-61 NRFI record translates to a whopping 61% win rate, indicating their pitchers consistently shut down opposing offenses in the first inning.
Low First Inning Runs Scored: The data confirms this - the Marlins allowed an average of only .44 runs in the first inning. This incredibly low number speaks volumes about their own offense's inability to score runs early.
The Marlins averaged a meager .44 runs in the first inning, even worse on the road at .33 runs. This translates to one of the lowest scoring offenses in the league, ranking third-worst with an average of 4.07 runs per game overall.
In essence, the Marlins' weakness became their strength for NRFI bets. Their anemic offense rarely scored early, but their fantastic pitching staff consistently shut down opponents in the first inning, making them the clear leader in NRFI success last season.
Dive deeper into your betting strategy with BetQL's extensive suite of resources, including: