NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Friday, September 11, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Mets at Yankees NRFI
• Phillies at Braves NRFI
• Guardians at Twins 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

Mets at Yankees NRFI (-122)

Mets at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET

The Subway Series starts with an excellent pitching matchup between Nolan McLean and Carlos Rodón.

McLean has put together a strong 2026 campaign, entering Friday with an 11-8 record and 3.06 ERA across 179 strikeouts. He's been particularly good at keeping opponents off the board in the opening frame, recording a 3.21 first-inning ERA across 28 first innings.

Rodón has been similarly effective. The New York Yankees‘ lefty owns a 3.09 ERA for the season and has been even stingier in the opening inning, pitching to a 2.77 ERA while holding opponents to a .174 batting average.

The offenses certainly add some risk to this bet, particularly at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, but both starters have shown an ability to navigate the first inning. This is my favorite NRFI of the day.

Phillies at Braves NRFI (-140)

Phillies at Braves, 7:15 p.m. ET

Chris Sale is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for this pick.

Sale has been one of baseball's best pitchers in 2026, carrying a 14-9 record and 2.10 ERA into Friday's start. He has been especially dominant lately, surrendering only two earned runs over his last 18 innings while recording 21 strikeouts.

That stretch includes a start against this same Philadelphia Phillies‘ lineup. Sale held Philadelphia to one run across six innings while striking out seven, and he helped cash the NRFI in that matchup.

Aaron Nola's full-season numbers aren't nearly as impressive, as he owns a 4.76 ERA, but his recent work is encouraging as Nola has allowed two or fewer runs in six straight starts.

The Atlanta Braves‘ offense also enters Friday in a funk, scoring only six total runs across their previous four games. With Sale capable of shutting down just about anyone right now and the Braves struggling to generate offense, I like the chances of a scoreless first inning.

Guardians at Twins NRFI (-146)

Guardians at Twins, 8:10 p.m. ET

Parker Messick and Taj Bradley give us another appealing combination for the NRFI market.

Messick has been fantastic this season. The Cleveland Guardians‘ lefty enters Friday with a 2.53 ERA over 167 innings while racking up 173 strikeouts, and he's reached double-digit punchouts twice over his past four outings.

The matchup helps, too. The Minnesota Twins‘ have scored only 10 runs across its past four games, giving Messick a good chance to start his night with a clean frame.

Bradley has been more volatile, but he's pitched to a 3.95 ERA over 159 1/3 innings and has piled up 184 strikeouts. His swing-and-miss ability is particularly useful for an NRFI bet because it gives him a way to escape trouble without relying on balls in play.

Cleveland has also been one of baseball's weaker offenses this season.

With Messick pitching at a high level and Bradley possessing good strikeout upside, I'll back both starters to get through the opening inning unscathed.

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.