NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for September 25, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Rays-Phillies NRFI
• Rangers-Twins NRFI
• Angels-Mariners 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 MLB props for today.

Best NRFI Picks and Predictions for Today

Rays-Phillies NRFI

Rays at Phillies, 6:40 p.m. ET

The game with the lowest conventional total on Friday's slate also gives us a strong NRFI setup with Freddy Peralta opposing Cristopher Sánchez.

Sánchez is the main attraction. The lefty has turned in another excellent campaign, posting a 2.93 ERA and 3.39 xERA while striking out 26.6% of hitters and walking only 5.3%. That combination of strikeouts and control makes him well suited to navigate the top of the Tampa Bay Rays‘ order without giving away free baserunners.

Peralta hasn't been nearly as dominant overall, but there are still reasons to trust him for three outs. His 3.82 xERA is significantly better than his 4.56 ERA, and he's limited opponents to a .302 xwOBA. His strikeout rate has fallen to 21.5%, but his 8.5% walk rate is manageable.

The full-game total sits at just 6.5 runs, reinforcing the idea that offense could be at a premium. With Sánchez on one side and Peralta's underlying metrics looking better than his ERA on the other, the NRFI is appealing.

Rangers-Twins NRFI

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

Jacob deGrom against Joe Ryan is the kind of pitching matchup that immediately puts a game on the NRFI radar.

Ryan has registered a 3.73 xERA this season while striking out 25.7% of hitters and walking only 5.1%. That low walk rate is particularly useful for NRFI purposes because it forces the Texas Rangers to string together hits to generate a first-inning run.

DeGrom remains capable of overpowering any lineup, and his matchup with the Minnesota Twins gives this bet quality starting pitching on both sides. He enters Friday with 147 strikeouts over 120.2 innings this season, giving him plenty of bat-missing upside against the top of the Twins' order.

Ryan's command paired with deGrom's strikeout ability makes this one of my preferred NRFIs on Friday.

Angels-Mariners NRFI

Angels at Mariners, 10:10 p.m. ET

Reid Detmers' 2026 breakout gives us another appealing late-night NRFI opportunity.

Detmers owns a 3.47 ERA and an even better 3.23 xERA across 179 innings. He's struck out 28.4% of hitters while issuing walks at only a 6.4% clip, and opposing hitters have managed just a .279 xwOBA against him. Those are strong indicators for getting through the Seattle Mariners‘ first three hitters without damage.

Bryce Miller hasn't been quite as dominant, but he's been solid enough to hold up his end of the wager. Miller carries a 3.99 ERA over 112.2 innings while striking out 112 hitters against 36 walks. He also enters this start off an encouraging outing in which he didn't allow an earned run across 5.1 frames.

Detmers is the pitcher I trust more in this matchup, but Miller's combination of control and recent form makes the other half of the equation viable, as well.

With two capable starters taking the ball at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park, Angels-Mariners is another NRFI worth considering on Friday.

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.