Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (First Inning Picks for May 6)

Welcome to my NRFI and YRFI column debut. First inning props are a good way to settle into the game. Also, if the bet loses, you can get on with your day instead of sweating and worrying about a future loss. 

Today, I’m looking fading one of the best teams in the league, two of the worst teams in the Majors and found some value in the American League.

If you're unfamiliar, these bets are on the first inning of MLB games. If you bet on NRFI (No Runs First Inning), and the first inning sees no runs scored, the bet cashes. If you wager on YRFI (Yes Runs First Inning), the bet will hit if one or more runs are scored in the opening inning.

Here are my top three NRFI and YRFI bets for Friday, May 6. All odds listed are consensus lines. 

Rangers vs. Yankees NFRI (-145)

There’s a lot of juice on this prop, but I like it because the Rangers are a terrible offense. The Rangers are 23rd in the Majors in first inning runs, averaging 0.33 runs per first innings. New York isn’t terrible, but the Yankees aren’t great to start the game off. With the inefficiency of the Rangers and the Yankees being unimpressive, the UNDER here looks good.

Pirates vs. Reds NFRI (-120)

These are two of the worst teams in the Majors. The Reds are historically bad and anytime I can fade them, I will. Combined, these teams average 0.77 runs per first inning. I don’t see a lot of value or – confidence – in taking a chance hoping for these offenses to come to life. 

Athletics vs. Twins YFRI (+100)

The A’s are top 5 in the league in first inning runs per game (0.72). Their opponent joins them in the top 10 in that stat. These are some of the best teams in the league at starting off strong. With plus money, the value here is fantastic. 

You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.