NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• White Sox-Guardians NRFI
• Brewers-Pirates NRFI
• Red Sox-Rangers 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 and MLB props for today.

Best NRFI Picks and Predictions for Today

White Sox-Guardians NRFI

White Sox at Guardians, 1:10 p.m. ET

Anthony Kay and Parker Messick make the Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Guardians matchup worth considering in the NRFI market.

The first-inning numbers are particularly appealing. Kay has produced a NRFI in 25 of 35 starts in his career. He's kept the opening frame scoreless in 8 of his last 10 starts.

Messick has been even better from a larger career-rate perspective. He's recorded 28 NRFIs in 36 starts, translating to a 78% rate, and he's gone without a first-inning run in 7 of his last 10 outings.

With both starters displaying a strong history of getting through the opening inning cleanly and neither of these offenses all that potent, I like the chances of a quiet start in Cleveland.

Brewers-Pirates NRFI

Brewers at Pirates, 6:40 p.m. ET

Logan Henderson and Jared Jones give us an intriguing pitching matchup at PNC Park.

Henderson has been excellent for the Milwaukee Brewers this season. The right-hander enters Wednesday with a 2.34 ERA, and his 12.6% swinging-strike rate gives him a good chance to navigate the top of the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ order without damage. Pittsburgh has also been struggling offensively of late, ranking 27th in wOBA over the last 30 days.

Jones is the more concerning half of this wager, but he's capable of doing his part. He's recorded 100 strikeouts this season and has the swing-and-miss ability to get himself out of trouble.

With Henderson pitching as well as he has, Brewers-Pirates is my favorite NRFI spot on Wednesday's slate.

Red Sox-Rangers NRFI

Red Sox at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. ET

Jake Bennett and MacKenzie Gore are slated to square off at Globe Life Field, and this is another pitching matchup I like backing for a scoreless opening inning.

Bennett has been a solid piece of the Boston Red Sox rotation, entering Wednesday with a 3.69 ERA. Gore's full-season results haven't been as impressive, but the left-hander still has plenty of bat-missing ability, recording 172 strikeouts this season for the Texas Rangers.

There's also a favorable park element here. Globe Life Field is a pitcher-friendly park, which is useful when we're asking only for six outs without a run crossing the plate.

Neither offense is one I want to underestimate, so this isn't quite as appealing to me as Brewers-Pirates. Still, the combination of Bennett, Gore and the venue makes Red Sox-Rangers one of my preferred NRFI options from Wednesday's night games.

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.

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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.