Friday promises to be yet another special day across Major League Baseball. With several home openers on tap, today’s action stretches from the afternoon all the way to midnight. That means ample opportunity for bettors to put down a few NRFI bets. No runs in the first inning sounds easy on paper, but nothing is ever guaranteed in baseball. Which games should you be targeting on Friday?
Ahead of today’s MLB contests, here are three NRFI bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Orioles vs. Pirates NRFI (-130)
A busy winter saw the Orioles make major changes across the roster, especially when it comes to their rotation. However, the biggest addition on the pitching side might be better health for Kyle Bradish. The 29-year-old, when active, is a difference maker. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed an otherwise promising career. The right-hander has failed to throw more than 40.0 innings in each of his last two seasons. Bradish’s last full campaign, back in 2023, saw him post a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 30 starts. That season, he notched a sparkling 96.7% NRFI rate. There’s a decent chance he can replicate that tonight against a subpar Pirates lineup.
Pittsburgh will counter with a quality arm of its own in Mitch Keller. The former All-Star was decent, albeit not great, in 2025; he posted a 4.19 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. With that being said, the veteran righty accounted for a respectable 75.0% NRFI rate last season. In comparison, the Orioles struggled that year to generate early runs. Baltimore’s YRFI rate in 2025 was 25.93%, tied for the fifth-worst mark in baseball. The O’s have scored a first inning run once over six contests (16.67%) this season.
Phillies vs. Rockies NRFI (+100)
A date at notorious hitter’s park Coors Field…with the Phillies in town? I promise, this is not a typo. Granted, it’s the biggest risk of the three picks on this list. However, there’s one reason why this bet makes sense: Michael Lorenzen. The 34-year-old has been a decent innings eater for most of his professional career. However, there’s one thing he does better than almost anyone: pitching in the first inning. Among pitchers with 20 or more starts last season, Lorenzen’s 84.6% NRFI rate ranked sixth. On the flip side, Philadelphia’s offense had the league’s 11th-lowest YRFI rate on the road (26.51%).
It’ll be Aaron Nola on the bump for Philadelphia, making his second appearance of the season. The former All-Star is erratic, to say the least. It’s fair to be a bit skeptical here given his disastrous numbers last season (6.01 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). However, the righty’s 4.58 FIP suggests he was the victim of some bad luck. Over six career appearances at Coors Field, Nola owns a respectable 4.03 ERA. Despite their hitter-friendly confines, the Rockies had the ninth-lowest NRFI rate at home last season (28.4%). Nothing about Colorado’s current offense suggests a major reversal of that trend.
Mets vs. Giants NRFI (-140)
Both the Mets and Giants put some early runs on the scoreboard during Thursday’s series opener. I’m not expecting a follow-up performance from either offense this evening. Nolan McLean, arguably New York’s most talented arm, enters the year with plenty of hype. The rookie delivered a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 ratio over eight starts in 2025. During that time, he allowed a first inning run on just two occasions (75.0%). On the other hand, San Francisco’s offense delivered MLB’s ninth-fewest runs per game at home (4.17).
Tyler Mahle will toe the slab for the Giants, looking to build off of a decent season debut. Last Saturday, he held a powerful Yankees lineup to two runs over four innings. When healthy (big if), the righty has flashed plenty of talent. During 16 starts last season with the Rangers, Mahle posted a 2.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He also tallied a stellar 81.3% NRFI rate with Texas. New York’s lineup had the 12th-lowest YRFI rate on the road last season (26.83%). Even against a capable Mets lineup, Mahle is someone bettors should feel confident backing on Friday night.
