NRFI Today: NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Monday, September 21, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Blue Jays at Orioles NRFI
• Nationals at Tigers NRFI

NRFI bets -- short for "no run first inning" -- have become one of the most popular ways to wager on baseball.

The premise is simple: we need both starting pitchers to get through the opening frame without allowing a run. That puts a premium on finding the right combination of starting pitching and opposing offenses.

Monday brings us an unusually small three-game MLB slate. 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.

Best NRFI Picks and Predictions for Today

Blue Jays at Orioles NRFI

Trey Yesavage and Shane Baz are the scheduled starters for tonight's matchup in Baltimore, and there's enough working in our favor to make the NRFI appealing.

Yesavage has put together a nice campaign this year when he’s healthy, entering Monday with a 3.65 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 93 2/3 innings. He's struck out 23.6% of the batters he's faced while surrendering only 0.96 home runs per nine innings.

Most importantly for this market, Yesavage has kept the opposition off the board in the first inning in 12 of his 18 starts this season. He also enters this matchup having recorded a scoreless opening frame in three of his past four starts.

The Baltimore Orioles‘ offense helps the cause. The Orioles have scored in the first inning in just 25.0% of their games this season, one of the lower marks in baseball.

Baz hasn't been quite as impressive overall, carrying a 4.11 ERA into Monday, but his matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays is encouraging. Current Blue Jays hitters have produced only a .219 batting average against him in their previous meetings, and Toronto has been another of baseball's least productive first-inning offenses.

With both teams struggling to consistently generate early offense, this is my favorite NRFI spot on Monday's tiny slate.

Nationals at Tigers NRFI

This one comes with considerably more uncertainty, but that uncertainty could give us a more appealing number.

DJ Herz is slated to make his first MLB appearance of 2026 for the Washington Nationals. While that makes his current form difficult to evaluate, Herz has generally been excellent in the opening inning during his MLB career. His career first-inning ERA sits at 2.37, and he's recorded a scoreless first inning in 79.0% of his MLB starts.

The Detroit Tigers will counter with River Ryan, who is also making his 2026 MLB debut. Ryan has only 20 1/3 career MLB innings under his belt from back in 2024, but he was outstanding during that limited sample, posting a 1.33 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.

There's some additional help from the environment. Comerica Park has been a fairly neutral overall run-scoring venue, but its home run factor sits below league average. With two pitchers who have demonstrated the ability to miss bats at the MLB level, that makes the NRFI an intriguing option.

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.

New customers can get up to $250 in Bonus Bets — guaranteed — when you bet $5 every day for five days. Place your first wager now! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today's other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Which MLB bets stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds to see the full menu of options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

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.