NRFI Today: 3 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Thursday, September 24, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Cardinals at Pirates NRFI
• Rays at Yankees NRFI
• Padres at Dodgers 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 prop bets for today.

Best NRFI Picks and Predictions for Today

Cardinals at Pirates NRFI

We'll start with the day’s first game as Kyle Leahy squares off with Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh.

Skenes hasn't matched the otherworldly numbers he posted over his first two MLB seasons, but the underlying profile remains excellent. The Pittsburgh Pirates' ace has recorded a 27.9% strikeout rate with a 6.8% walk rate and 1.02 HR/9 across 168.0 innings. His 3.91 ERA doesn't fully reflect how well he's pitched, either, as his xERA is 3.27.

Skenes has also been particularly tough at PNC Park, generating a 31.7% strikeout rate at home this year.

Leahy doesn't have Skenes' overpowering arsenal, but he's been a steady starter for the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander owns a 3.65 ERA over 138.0 innings with a 22.0% strikeout rate, 7.0% walk rate, and 0.98 HR/9. Those are plenty respectable numbers for the other half of an NRFI pairing.

With Skenes handling the more difficult side of the matchup and Leahy doing a good job limiting free passes and home runs, this profiles as a good NRFI spot.

Rays at Yankees NRFI

Cam Schlittler has been one of baseball's best starters this season, making Tampa Bay Rays-New York Yankees an appealing NRFI matchup.

Schlittler comes into Thursday with a microscopic 1.94 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 190.2 innings. He's paired that run prevention with an elite 31.3% strikeout rate, a 6.3% walk rate, and only 0.76 HR/9. His 2.84 xERA also backs up a lot of what we've seen from the traditional numbers.

He has been especially dominant the first time through a lineup. Schlittler is sitting at a 34.6% strikeout rate, 2.5% walk rate, and 0.80 FIP the first time through the batting order this season. That's exactly the kind of profile we want for an NRFI wager.

Ian Seymour has been much more volatile from a run-prevention standpoint, but there is a lot to like about his underlying skill set. The Tampa Bay lefty owns a 29.0% strikeout rate against only a 6.7% walk rate, along with a 3.64 xERA. He's also generated a 13.5% swinging-strike rate, giving him the ability to escape trouble without relying on balls in play.

The full-game total is only 6.5 runs, which further illustrates how pitching-friendly the market expects this matchup to be.

Schlittler is the headliner, but Seymour's strikeout ability makes me comfortable backing both starters to get through the opening frame despite the hitter-friendly park.

Padres at Dodgers NRFI

Thursday's late-night matchup between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers gives us another excellent starting-pitching combination with Nick Pivetta and Tyler Glasnow.

Pivetta has been good over a small sample this season. Through seven starts, he's recorded a 3.30 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 29.2% strikeout rate while walking only 5.8% of opposing hitters. He's also surrendered just two homers in 30.0 innings, good for a 0.60 HR/9.

The expected numbers are even stronger. Pivetta owns a 2.91 xERA, with opponents producing just a .231 expected wOBA against him.

Glasnow gives us another high-strikeout arm on the other side. He's produced a 3.46 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 67.2 innings this season while striking out 33.0% of the hitters he's faced. His 12.6% swinging-strike rate and 32.6% called-strike-plus-whiff rate illustrate how difficult it has been for opposing batters to consistently put his stuff in play.

While both lineups obviously carry plenty of offensive firepower, Pivetta and Glasnow have the strikeout upside to navigate the top of the order. With the full-game total sitting at just 7.5 runs, I'll side with the pitching and take the NRFI at Dodger Stadium.

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.