NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Guardians-Orioles NRFI
• Astros-Phillies NRFI
• Cubs-Brewers 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

Cleveland Guardians at Baltimore Orioles NRFI (-132)

The final NRFI I'm targeting comes in Baltimore, where Shane Baz and Foster Griffin are the probable starters.

Baz has put together a solid season despite his 5-15 win-loss record. He owns a 3.91 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 163 1/3 innings, and he's struck out 145 hitters. His strikeout rate sits at 20.9%, giving him enough swing-and-miss ability to escape trouble without relying entirely on balls in play.

Griffin has been even better from a run-prevention standpoint. The left-hander owns a 3.26 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 160 1/3 innings, with 142 strikeouts.

Neither offense is packing much punch lately. The Cleveland Guardians are just 23rd in wOBA over the past 30 days, which is actually one spot in front of the Baltimore Orioles.

Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies NRFI (-130)

There is a lot of offensive talent in this game, but a starting pitching matchup of Hunter Brown and Cristopher Sánchez gives me confidence in a NRFI.

Sánchez has been one of baseball's best starters in 2026. The Philadelphia Phillies‘ lefty owns a 2.58 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 181 1/3 innings while racking up 207 strikeouts. His combination of swing-and-miss ability and control gives him a strong chance of navigating the top of the Houston Astros‘ order without damage.

Brown hasn't accumulated as many innings, but he's been effective when healthy. The Astros’ right-hander enters Wednesday with a 3.31 ERA and 93 strikeouts across 87 innings.

Brown has pitched to a 2.25 ERA in the first inning this season, so his overall numbers have carried over nicely to the opening frame. Sánchez has experienced a little more first-inning volatility, but his elite overall profile still makes this a pairing I'm willing to trust.

With two starters capable of generating strikeouts, I'll take my chances on a scoreless opening frame despite the quality of the two offenses.

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers NRFI (-128)

This is my favorite NRFI of the day, largely because of Logan Henderson. The Milwaukee Brewers‘ right-hander has been outstanding in 2026, producing a 2.48 ERA, 30.0% strikeout rate and 0.79 WHIP over 83 1/3 innings.

More importantly for this wager, Henderson has kept opponents off the board in the opening inning at an impressive rate. He has recorded an NRFI in 13 of his 15 starts this season, good for an 86.7% rate.

Kevin Gausman isn't having nearly as strong of an overall season, posting a 4.38 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 162 1/3 innings, but his underlying strikeout numbers remain useful. He's fanned 165 hitters with a 24.2% strikeout rate. Gausman has also been excellent early of late, working a scoreless first inning in each of his last five starts.

Henderson gives us an elite first-inning profile on one side while Gausman's recent opening-frame form gives us enough confidence on the other. I'll back both starters to put up a zero in the 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.

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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.