Another day of Major League Baseball is about to get underway. 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 picks.
There are 12 games on the schedule today, giving us a sizable range of NRFI bets to choose from. Here’s what I’m rolling with this afternoon.
All MLB odds are current as of Monday, May 19.
Best NRFI Bet Today
Royals vs Giants: NRFI (-150)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Today’s meeting between the Royals and Giants presents an excellent opportunity to bet on a scoreless first inning.
Kansas City is rolling with Kris Bubic, who’s in the midst of his best season to date. The 27-year-old is 4-2 with a 1.66 ERA and is coming off a strong outing in which he struck out nine over 6.1 innings in Houston.
On the other side, San Francisco will start Robbie Ray, who appears to be reclaiming his old form. The former Cy Young winner is 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA. He did give up three first-inning runs in his most recent appearance, but we shouldn’t expect that to become a pattern.
Don’t think twice about taking the NRFI at -150 with your MLB bet of the day.
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.
What Is an NRFI bet?
An NRFI bet is when you predict there won’t be any runs in the first inning. This includes both the top and bottom halves of the inning.
If one or more runs are scored, you’ll lose your bet. It doesn’t matter which team scores the run.
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.
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.
You’ll find everything you need for NRFI bets at DraftKings, including the ability to put them into single-game parlays.
The site is easy to navigate, which enhances the user experience and makes DraftKings one of the premier options.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM emerged from a partnership between MGM Resorts and Entain Holdings to form one of the best sportsbooks around.
The site has a detailed live-betting platform with live streaming on select events, which is fantastic for a fast-paced wager like NRFI since you can sweat your bet in real time.
There are also numerous odds boosts that give you more value on your wagers at BetMGM.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars has become a giant in the sports-betting industry after purchasing reputable betting site William Hill in 2021.
Aside from offering everything you’ll need as a sports bettor, Caesars has some of the best welcome bonuses and VIP rewards programs. You can redeem your rewards points for terrific prizes like hotel accommodations and fine dining.
Enjoy a sleek aesthetic and accessible platform when placing your NRFI bet.
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 prides itself as the world’s largest sportsbook, featuring a comprehensive selection of betting markets and a detailed live-betting platform.
The site allows you to make parlays on in-game wagers, which isn’t often offered by other sportsbooks.
There’s also an organized layout that makes it easy to find your bet and a user-friendly site that functions at a high speed.
