Another day of Major League Baseball is about to get underway, but this isn’t just any day; it’s the World Series. No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets have become some of the most entertaining to make throughout the season, so we’ve set out to showcase our best NRFI bets today.
With only one game on tap since it’s the World Series, we have only two options to choose from (YRFI or NRFI). Read on to find out which way I’m leaning between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
All MLB odds are current as of Saturday, Nov. 1.
Best NRFI Bet Today
Dodgers at Blue Jays: NRFI (-105)
Today’s best NRFI bet is at a great price at (-105) odds.
I like getting a NRFI at this affordable cost in a game with Shohei Ohtani on the mound, aka one of the best pitchers in baseball.
We just need Max Scherzer to hold down the fort for the top half of the first inning.
The veteran was able to provide a scoreless first in his last start during the World Series, so we’ll bet on him doing so once again here.
This is my top MLB bet of the day for NRFI for Game 7 of the World Series.
Best MLB Player Prop Bets Today
Check out the best MLB player prop bets to make with our props comparison tool. Click on a game below to see all of its prop bets.
Find more of our daily MLB bet picks
What Is an NRFI bet?
In baseball betting, an NRFI bet stands for “No Run First Inning." The goal of this bet is, when you place the wager, for no runs to be scored during the first inning. This includes the top and bottom halves of the inning. Thus, if after the first inning, the score is 0-0, you’d win this wager. However, if any run is scored by either team, you’d lose the bet. In that event, you’d want to seek out a YRFI, or “Yes Run First Inning" wager.
These are appealing wagers because the results occur quickly in MLB games. The analysis is typically limited to each team’s starting pitcher and the top 3-5 batters in the batting order. The odds for this wager are typically around -110 to +120, but it could be higher or lower.
If you’re looking for a short-term, quick-resolution wager, NRFI bets are among the most popular in Major League Baseball.
What Is a YRFI bet?
A YRFI bet is when you wager that a run will be scored in the first inning. It likewise includes both the top and bottom of the first.
If one or more runs are scored, your bet hits. As with NRFI, it doesn’t matter which team scores the run.
How Do I Make NRFI Bets and YRFI Bets?
To place an NRFI or YRFI bet, go to your sportsbook’s baseball page. From there, click your preferred game to access the entire selection of bet types for the game.
You’ll find NRFI and YRFI listed somewhere among in-game or innings props. If you’re not sure how to place prop bets, check out our step-by-step guide on how to place a prop bet online.
You must consider a few factors when choosing whether to bet “yes" or “no" on runs scored in the first inning.
First, take a look at the pitching matchup. If you have two aces like Max Scherzer and Corbin Burnes going at it, that would be a tough spot for a run in the first inning. However, if there are one or two volatile pitchers, you can bet on YRFI.
At the same time, if you choose a game with two aces, remember that the moneyline will be juiced up, giving you less value on your bet.
Another one of the keys to look for when targeting YRFI is control issues. If a pitcher has trouble throwing strikes, that means we’ll see more walks and baserunners, which bodes well for YRFI.
You also want to take a look at the lineup order. The best hitters come to the plate in the first inning, so if the game involves a strong offense, it might be risky to bet on NRFI.
Make sure to consider the implied team totals. For example, if the New York Yankees are -200 favorites in a game with a 10.5 run total, that gives them a 5.5 run implied team total. This means that they are projected to score a lot of runs in that game, which bodes well for YRFI.
Being mindful of these factors should put you on the right track to succeed in YRFI and NRFI bets. This is more important to look at than trends like “Team X has scored in the first inning in seven consecutive games" because there is more context involved.
Best MLB NRFI Sportsbooks
It’s important to shop around across multiple sportsbooks to find the best odds on your NRFI bet. Even if one site offers a -120 moneyline compared to +100, that’s still a $20 savings on a $100 bet.
You want to get the most bang for your buck as a bettor, so be sure to choose some of the best operators on the market, including the following:
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel has become the most popular betting site in the United States due to its user-friendly app and robust betting markets.
The site features same-game parlays, where you can combine several bet types for higher payouts. There are also useful promos that you can target, such as odds boosts. These give you more value on your bets.
FanDuel features some of the best odds in the industry, so it’s a great choice for NRFI bets.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings transitioned from one of the leaders in daily fantasy sports into a powerhouse in the sports-betting space.
It excels at promotions, offering something new every day and often tailoring them to what you enjoy wagering on most. For example, if you enjoy wagering on NRFI bets in the MLB, you’ll often find things like MLB profit or odds boosts.
Additionally, you can deposit and withdraw in multiple ways, including with Apple Pay and Venmo.
Something else I enjoy about DraftKings is the rewards program, DK Crowns. It’s not complex: You wager, earn Crowns, and redeem them for bonus bets.
Finally, DraftKings has DK Social, which allows you to group with friends, discuss bets, and track those wagers.
There’s not a lot of “cons" at DraftKings; it’s one of the most well-known sportsbooks on the market for a reason.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM emerged from a partnership between MGM Resorts and Entain Holdings to form one of the best sportsbooks around.
Like DraftKings, BetMGM also offers many promotions, but they are mostly geared toward odds boosts. These also apply to multiple sports, including the NFL, college football, the NBA, and more. There’s also “Select Your Squad: which allows you to pick your favorite NFL team and have promotions specifically for those.
BetMGM is also one of the best places for parlays. The Easy Parlay tool allows you to quickly scan markets across various sports and create parlays fast, which could be helpful if you’re trying to get a wager in just before a game begins.
Additionally, BetMGM offers live streaming on select contests. After logging in on the desktop, look to the right of the homepage; there you’ll see the live streaming feed. You can check the lineup of games and leagues and watch them live there, which could also allow for more informed live wagers.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars has become a giant in the sports-betting industry after purchasing reputable betting site William Hill in 2021.
Where Caesars excels is in odds boosts. Daily, you can visit the “Boost" category and find dozens of odds boosts. For example, I’m seeing 53 right now. In that same sphere, there are numerous pre-built Same Game Parlays that show the odds and what you’d win with specific wagers.
Caesars is a bit light on promotions, offering numerous “sweepstakes" promotions, like a chance to win a share of $900,000 if you wager on an NBA player to score 50 points and they do.
Outside of those, there’s the welcome bonus where you’ll get your first bet matched up to $250 and a 50% Same Game Parlay boost on college basketball.
Caesars Rewards is also quite lucrative, especially if you enjoy visiting Caesars’ retail properties.
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 prides itself as the world’s largest sportsbook, featuring a comprehensive selection of betting markets and a detailed live-betting platform.
I know we’ve mentioned promotions a few times, but in terms of which platform offers the most bonuses, that may very well bet365. It offers early payout promotions on almost every sport. For example, if a team you bet on in the NHL goes up by two goals, your wager will cash.
Also, if you enjoy live betting, bet365 is fantastic. Not only is there a live feed for most sports, but there are ample betting markets to choose from.
Lastly, on the homepage, there’s a Bet Boost category on the homepage showing a boosted parlay and the updated odds and payout.
The user interface design isn’t as modern as others, but its simplicity makes it easy to navigate and to find all of the “important" sections of an online sportsbook, such as promotions, where to log in, the sports betting markets, customer support, and more.
NRFI Bets FAQ
What does NRFI mean?
NRFI means “No Run First Inning." So, the goal of this wager is for both teams to be tied 0-0 heading into the top of the second inning.
How do NRFI bets work?
When you wager on a game to result in “NRFI," you’ll want both teams to be scoreless after the first inning.
Where can I bet on NRFI?
You can wager on NRFI markets at most of the top online sportsbooks, including DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, and more.
What’s the difference between NRFI and YRFI?
YRFI is another wager in baseball related to the first inning. However, instead of hoping for no runs to be scored with an NRFI bet, with YRFI, or “Yes Run First Inning," you’re hoping for a team to score at least one run.
How do I best make an NRFI bet?
When examining NRFI bets, you’ll want to examine numerous statistics, including each starting pitcher’s first-inning ERA, the strength of the first 3-5 hitters in the lineup, the ballpark, a team’s offensive success in the first inning, and more.
Should a beginner make NRFI bets?
Yes. These bets are quick to resolve, and they are isolated to only the first inning, making it an easy wager to evaluate.
Do NRFI odds change often?
Not really. These can change if a new starting pitcher is announced, if there are weather updates, or if there are changes to a team’s lineup.
