Betsided

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Target Pitchers Who Struggle in First Innings)

By Iain MacMillan

Kris Bubic of the Kansas City Royals will get the start on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox.
Kris Bubic of the Kansas City Royals will get the start on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox. / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

We have a full slate of baseball games today, including some afternoon action and a double-header.

Let's talk about one of the most popular and exciting types of baseball bets you can place, NRFI (no run first inning) and YRFI (yes run first inning).

With these bets, all you need to do is watch the first inning of the game. If you bet NRFI and no runs are scored, you win! If you wager on YRFI, and one or more runs are scored, you cash your ticket! It's really that simple.

Let's dive into my three favorite NRFI and YRFI plays for today's action.

All odds listed below are via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Dodgers vs. Giants NRFI -120

You might think that YRFI is the play in this game considering the Dodgers average the second most first inning runs per game at 0.68. But based on the pitching matchup, I encourage you to consider the NRFI instead.

Both Clayton Kershaw and Jakob Junis have been lights out in the first inning this season. Kershaw has only allowed one run in 14 first innings pitched, and Junis has allowed zero runs in nine first innings pitched.

Those numbers are certainly good enough for me to wager on the NRFI side in this one.

Athletics vs. Angels YRFI -115

As bad as the Angels offense has been this season, they surprisingly rank around the middle of the pack when it comes to first inning scoring. They average 0.54 runs per first inning, which comes in at 15th in the Majors.

Today, they face Paul Blackburn of the Athletics, who has struggled all season in the opening frame. He holds a 6.30 ERA in the first inning, allowing 14 first inning runs in 20 starts in 2022.

Red Sox vs. Royals YRFI -125

Whenever I'm looking for YRFI bets and I see two pitchers that stink it up in the first inning, I feel like a kid on Christmas.

Nick Pivetta of the Red Sox has a 5.14 ERA in the first inning, allowing 12 runs in 21 starts this season. Kris Bubic of the Royals is even worse, sporting a 9.60 ERA in the first inning this season, allowing 16 earned runs in 15 starts.

I'll take one YRFI, please!

You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.

Home/MLB Prop Bets