Just eight games are on tap for Thursday across Major League Baseball. Still, with pennant races heating up, fans are spoiled for choice with high-stakes matchups. For those looking to get in on the action, there’s no quicker way to cash in than an NRFI prop. No runs in the first inning sounds simple, but there’s more than meets the eye. This bet requires a solid understanding of which pitchers thrive, and which pitchers struggle, early. Before all 16 teams take the field, which NRFIs are worth a wager?
Ahead of Thursday’s MLB slate, here are two NRFI bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cubs vs. Giants NRFI (-165)
This NRFI has by far the lowest odds on today’s board, and for good reason. All-Stars are set to duel in San Francisco when Shota Imanaga faces Logan Webb. The former of the two has been hampered for part of 2025 by injuries. Still, when healthy, he remains a force. Over 110.0 innings of work, the Japanese hurler owns a solid 3.03 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 90 strikeouts. Tonight, Imanaga will take on a Giants offense that owns baseball’s seventh-highest NRFI rate at home (73.85%).
Webb will have a tougher challenge against a loaded Cubs lineup. Regardless, the right-hander is more than capable of picking up three quick outs. Through 27 starts, he’s notched a 3.13 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts. In 21 of those outings, Webb has held opponents scoreless in the first inning. It helps that his opponents tonight have been struggling at the plate. Since August 1st, no team has scored fewer runs than Chicago (83). That bodes well for San Francisco’s chances at a clean inning tonight.
Yankees vs. White Sox NRFI (-110)
The riskier of our two Thursday NRFI plays, this matchup pits two intriguing starters against each other. For the visiting Yankees, Will Warren has been a pleasant surprise. The rookie is by no means a finished product, but he’s had flashes of greatness. Over his last six games, the right-hander has posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 29 strikeouts. On paper, Warren’s 5.33 first inning ERA doesn’t look pretty. However, that’s due to a few blowup starts. His NRFI rate is a far more impressive 81% in 2025. Tonight, he’ll take on a White Sox lineup averaging the third-fewest runs per game in the American League (3.94).
For the home team, it’ll be Davis Martin toeing the slab. The righty has carved out a solid role for himself in this middling Chicago rotation. Through 112.1 innings, he’s recorded a 3.93 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 80 strikeouts. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but a pitching-starved White Sox club isn’t complaining. In 14 of his 19 starts, the 28-year-old has held opposing lineups scoreless. The Yankees are usually a stay-away for NRFI purposes. However, Martin did hold New York to one run over 5.2 innings last August. A similar performance tonight would be a boon for NRFI bettors.
