15 games between 30 teams are set for Wednesday. Plenty of squads are taking the field, giving bettors ample opportunity to place some player props. That includes a few NRFI wagers (No Runs in the First Inning); in the blink of an eye, you can cash in. However, figuring out which pitchers thrive early, and which lineups struggle, is key.
Ahead of today’s MLB action, here are two NRFI bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nationals at Mets NRFI (-115)
Through over two months of play, the Mets have lived up to lofty World Series expectations. Despite lacking a traditional ace, pitching has been New York’s biggest strength so far. If there’s a #2 in this rotation behind Kodai Senga, David Peterson fits the bill. Through 12 starts, the right-hander has accounted for a 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 65 strikeouts. He’s been especially good to start games, posting a 1.50 first inning ERA.
For the visiting Nationals, it’ll be Jake Irvin taking the mound. So far, the 28-year-old has been a solid presence in an otherwise middling rotation. Through 13 outings, he’s accounted for a 4.02 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Irvin has had success in this spot, allowing two total runs over his last 14.2 innings vs. New York (1.23 ERA). It helps that the Mets own baseball’s 11th-highest NRFI rate this season (73.13%). Washington’s underrated arm is a solid bet to keep this star-studded lineup in check.
Yankees at Royals NRFI (-110)
In almost every scenario, the Yankees are a nightmare for this bet. Aaron Judge and company have an NRFI rate of just 60.0%, the lowest mark in baseball. However, this is a vote of confidence in Royals starter Kris Bubic. The southpaw has enjoyed a Cy Young-caliber campaign, notching a minuscule 1.43 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. In addition, he’s allowed only one earned run in the first inning this season (0.75 ERA).
It should be a far more manageable task tonight for Yankees hurler Clarke Schmidt. New York’s starter owns a solid 4.04 ERA over 49.0 innings of work in 2025. He’ll face a Royals lineup that ranks near the bottom of most hitting categories this season. That includes the league’s tenth-lowest NRFI rate at home (75.76%). A capable arm such as Schmidt is unlikely to have much difficulty carving up KC’s hitters at the start of this one.
