NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Giants at Pirates NRFI
• Padres at Reds NRFI
• Phillies at Diamondbacks NRFI

The MLB season is an annual marathon that gives us months of daily betting markets to consider.

While traditional player props like home runs and strikeouts remain popular options, one market that's gained steam is betting whether or not no runs will be scored in the first inning -- aka a No Run First Inning (NRFI) bet.

On FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds, we can find NRFI odds listed as 1st Inning 0.5 Runs under the Innings tab for each MLB game.

Please note: lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. You can also check out our MLB player news page to stay up to date with lineup news and injuries.

Check out the top home run picks for today.

NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Picks

Giants at Pirates NRFI (-156)

This is my favorite NRFI spot on Tuesday's slate, with Logan Webb and Paul Skenes squaring off at PNC Park.

Skenes has allowed a first-inning run in only 20.0% of his starts since June 1, surrendering 0.27 runs per opening frame in that span. He has also kept the first inning clean in four consecutive starts.

Webb has been nearly as reliable. He owns the same 20.0% YRFI-against rate across his last 15 starts and enters Tuesday having tossed six straight scoreless first innings.

The offenses help the cause, too. The Pittsburgh Pirates have scored in the first inning in only 23.4% of its games since June 1, while the San Francisco Giants have done so 28.2% of the time.

Skenes owns a 3.79 ERA entering Tuesday while Webb checks in with a 3.72 ERA. With two quality starters facing offenses that haven't consistently done damage immediately, Giants-Pirates is my favorite NRFI of the night.

Padres at Reds NRFI (+118)

Great American Ball Park isn't an ideal place to hunt for unders, which is why this NRFI is plus-money, but the first-inning profiles make San Diego Padres-Cincinnati Reds an appealing NRFI.

Nick Lodolo has been outstanding in the opening frame. He's allowed 0.18 first-inning runs per start across his last 11 outings, with an opponent scoring against him in the first just 18.2% of the time on the season.

San Diego has also been one of MLB's most NRFI-friendly teams. Since June 1, the Padres have produced a 59.5% NRFI rate, and they've scored in the first inning in only 25.3% of their games this year.

Randy Vásquez isn't as trustworthy as Lodolo, but Cincinnati's offense helps mitigate some of that risk. The Reds have also scored in the first in just 25.3% of their games over that span.

Lodolo is doing most of the heavy lifting for me in this wager, but the lack of early scoring from both offenses makes the NRFI worth considering.

Phillies at Diamondbacks NRFI (-130)

Assuming Jesús Luzardo remains the Philadelphia Phillies' confirmed starter, this matchup has one of the best individual first-inning profiles on Tuesday's board.

Luzardo has been almost automatic in the first. He's allowed a first-inning run in just two of his 27 starts this season. His full-season work has been excellent, as well. Luzardo enters Tuesday with a 3.09 ERA and 30.3% K rate.

The Arizona Diamondbacks will counter with Eduardo Rodriguez, who owns a sparkling 2.50 ERA across 27 starts. Rodriguez's first-inning numbers aren't quite as dominant as Luzardo's, but he's kept the opening frame scoreless in each of his last two outings.

There is plenty of offensive talent in these lineups, especially on the Philly side, so this isn't a risk-free NRFI. However, Luzardo's dominance in the opening inning combined with Rodriguez's strong overall season gives me enough to back the scoreless first.

NRFI Betting — Frequently Asked Questions

What does NRFI mean in baseball betting? NRFI stands for No Run First Inning. It's a baseball bet where you wager that neither team will score in the first inning. The opposite bet — at least one run scored in the first inning — is called YRFI (Yes Run First Inning).

How does a NRFI bet work? A NRFI bet is settled when the first inning is completed. If both teams fail to score, your bet wins. If either team scores one or more runs, the bet loses. The final game score has no bearing on the outcome.

What is the difference between NRFI and YRFI? NRFI bets that no runs will score in the first inning, while YRFI bets that at least one run will.

What stats should I look at for NRFI bets? The most important factors are usually each starting pitcher's first-inning ERA, WHIP, and strikeout rate (K%). You should also look at each team's first-inning batting average and on-base percentage as well as individual player stats for the first few batters in the lineup for each team.

Can I parlay NRFI bets? Yes, FanDuel lets you parlay NRFIs across multiple games on the same slate.

Where can you find NRFI betting lines on FanDuel? You can find NRFI odds listed as 1st Inning 0.5 Runs under the Innings tab for each MLB game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.