NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Monday, August 31, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox NRFI
• Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs NRFI
• Athletics at Texas 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.

NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Picks

Mariners at Red Sox NRFI (-146)

Starting Pitchers: George Kirby vs. Payton Tolle (6:46 p.m. ET)

The pitching matchup is enough to get my attention in Boston.

Payton Tolle has been excellent this year, carrying an 8-6 record, 3.09 ERA, and 141 strikeouts into Monday. He was particularly effective in August, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 30.1 innings. He allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his five August starts and held opponents to two or fewer earned runs four times.

George Kirby has been less consistent overall with a 4.02 ERA, but his numbers the first time through opposing batting orders are much stronger. Kirby has held hitters to a .208 batting average and 0.86 WHIP the first time through the order while producing a 2.50 FIP and 3.06 xFIP.

The offenses also enter this matchup in poor form. The Seattle Mariners have scored only four total runs over its last four games while the Boston Red Sox have produced nine runs over their last five.

Kirby's ability to command the strike zone and Tolle's recent form give this matchup plenty of appeal despite the hitter-friendly venue.

Brewers at Cubs NRFI (+108)

Starting Pitchers: Kyle Harrison vs. Clay Holmes (7:41 p.m. ET)

This matchup features two starters who have excelled at keeping opponents off the scoreboard early.

Kyle Harrison comes into Monday with a 10-3 record and 2.79 ERA. More importantly for this wager, Harrison has allowed a first-inning run in only 18.2% of his last 11 starts. His first-inning strikeout-to-walk ratio over that sample is 12-to-2. He’s also an elite bat-misser, sporting a 30.0% K rate.

Clay Holmes has been good, too, recording a 2.26 ERA this season. His underlying numbers are as strong as Harrison’s, but Holmes brings enough to the table to give me some confidence.

Now, there’s a reason this NRFI is at plus money — the wind. It’s blowing out at 11 MPH today at Wrigley. That’s scary. Both offenses pack plenty of firepower, too. But Harrison and Holmes are pretty darn good, and I am willing to roll the NRFI dice at these odds.

Athletics at Rangers NRFI (-156)

Starting Pitchers: Gage Jump vs. Jacob deGrom (8:06 p.m. ET)

With Gage Jump and Jacob deGrom on the mound, I think this is the best NRFI setup on Monday.

Jump has been solid in the opening frame this season, pitching to a 3.71 first-inning ERA across 17 starts. Opponents have hit .258 against him in the first inning with a .319 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage, while Jump has recorded 15 strikeouts against only 6 walks. He also enters Monday coming off an excellent outing against Minnesota in which he allowed just 2 runs over 6.1 innings while striking out 9.

DeGrom's first-inning performance has actually been a concern this year, and that played out in his most recent start, when the White Sox tagged him for six first-inning runs. Still, deGrom owns 159 strikeouts over 130.1 innings this season, and his ability to miss bats gives him the upside to bounce back quickly against an Athletics lineup missing several important hitters.

With Jump pitching well lately and deGrom coming off an uncharacteristically disastrous opening inning, I'm willing to bet on both starters settling things down and getting through the first without a run.

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.

New customers can get up to $350 in Bonus Bets — guaranteed — when you bet $5 every day for seven 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.