Throughout the MLB season, DraftKings Sportsbook offers a wide variety of props, providing players with a variety of ways to sweat out wins. Some options are slow-burn plays that can last multiple days, weeks, or even the course of an entire season. Other bets, though, are set up to be quick hitters to boost your bankroll with fast plays that are either won or lost very quickly. That style of bets provides bettors short-term payouts, instant gratification, and time to flip their winnings into other contests. One of the most popular short-term bets during the summer is MLB NRFI bets. Let’s take a look at the 13 games on the schedule this Monday and find a few NRFI (no run first inning) prop bets to back.
On Monday, August 4, DraftKings Sportsbook also offered a Profit Boost Token to use on a 2+ leg NRFI/YRFI Parlay with minimum odds per leg of -200 or longer. If you’re looking for a way to use that token and level up your winnings, these are my top MLB NRFI bets on the board. To help you find the NRFI plays you like the most, be sure to check out all the starting pitcher matchups on the board.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates (-120)
The Giants and Pirates start their series in Pittsburgh in one of the four early games, and it’s a good spot for an NRFI since both offenses are fairly low-scoring.
The Giants have not scored in the first inning in 73% of their games, and the Pirates have not scored in 74% of their games, two of the 10 highest marks in the majors. The Pirates have actually scored in the first inning in three straight games coming into this matchup, getting a run in each of their three games in Colorado. The Giants have not scored in the first in four straight.
The Pirates will give the ball to Johan Oveido for the first time this season. He’ll be making his return after Tommy John surgery and a lat strain from spring training during his recovery. He made six starts across the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Single-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona, and Triple-A Indianapolis, compiling a 3.12 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Oveido will be fired up for his return, so even though he may not be fully stretched out, he should be able to deliver a zero in the first inning.
The Giants will look to stop the Pirates’ first-inning momentum by giving the ball to Justin Verlander, who has allowed a first-inning run in four of his 14 starts, for a 78% conversion rate.
With these two low-scoring teams facing off, getting this prop at -120 feels like a great place to start the week’s MLB NRFI bets.
Houston Astros at Miami Marlins (-110)
The other early game is also a sneaky spot for MLB NRFI bets. The Marlins have surged into contention lately, and they’ll give the ball to Sandy Alcantara for the start of this series against the Astros.
Alcantara was a hot name at the trade deadline but remained in Miami. He has not allowed a first-inning run in 62% of his starts this season, whild his counterpart Jason Alexander has not given up a run in the first inning of his three starts this season for the Astros.
Like the Pirates and Giants, both the Astros and Marlins are below league average at scoring in the first inning. The Astros have scored in just 23.4% of their first innings, the second-lowest mark in the majors. The Marlins have scored in 27.5% of their first innings, but they have hit for NRFI bets in six of their last 10 games coming into this home matchup against Houston.
The odds at just -110 are especially attractive in this matchup since both pitchers have had success in the first inning this season, even though their overall performances have been much less consistent.
St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (-130)
We’ll round out Monday’s MLB NRFI bets by jumping to the extreme other end of the MLB schedule and playing the Cards and Dodgers matchup with a pair of well-known starting pitchers. Both teams have some thump in their lineup, but Tyler Glasnow and Sonny Gray have a good chance to be able to get through the first inning without a run allowed.
Glasnow has allowed no runs in eight of his nine first innings this season, for a strong 89% conversion rate. The Cardinals have also not scored in nine straight first innings and in 74% of their games this season. They have only scored in the first inning one time in their last 14 games.
Even though Glasnow did struggle with his control in his most recent start, he should be able to bounce back at Dodger Stadium, where he has been excellent over the last few seasons since joining the Dodgers.
The other side of the matchup is tougher, since Gray has been a little shaky, and the Dodgers are always a potent lineup to pick against. The veteran righty has been able to get through the first inning without allowing a run in 16 of his 22 starts (73%) this season and in eight of his last 10.
The Dodgers gave up runs early in the games on their recent road trip, but they didn’t score in the first inning in either of their games over the weekend, and have only scored in 16 first innings of their 56 home games.
