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MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds & Picks: Wednesday (4/9)

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The 2025 MLB season continues on Wednesday with 15 more games on the schedule. There are a few entertaining series set to play, including a National League East collision between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. The Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs will surely draw some attention in their interleague showdown as well.

Sports bettors wanting to get in on the action without having to sweat through an entire nine-inning contest can turn to MLB No Run First Inning (NRFI) tickets for a quick result. Here’s a look at two MLB NRFI options that stick out from the rest on this week’s hump day.

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    Wednesday's Best MLB No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Picks

    (Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

    Houston Astros (-132) at Seattle Mariners (+112)

    Starting Pitchers: Hunter Brown vs. Luis F. Castillo

    The Mariners and Astros split the first two clashes of this series, setting up an intriguing rubber match on Wednesday. Seattle is handing the ball to Luis F. Castillo (0-0, 9.00 ERA), while Houston is relying on Hunter Brown (1-1, 3.00 ERA) to earn a victory. Slow starts have played a big role in this matchup as neither Monday nor Tuesday’s game featured a single run in the first four innings.

    That shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, this is a pair of bottom-three offenses in terms of first-inning runs per contest. The Mariners have yet to cross home plate during the first inning in any of their nine home games. T-Mobile Park is where pitchers thrive and bats wither. The venue ranks dead last in offensive park factors spanning the past three seasons, according to Statcast.

    The pitchers on the mound have enough talent to cash this NRFI. Brown has limited this Seattle roster to a .220/.297/.297 slash line and zero home runs over 91 at-bats. The 26-year-old has also kept the Mariners off the scoreboard in the opening frame in four of his six starts against them. Meanwhile, Castillo impressed with a 0.98 WHIP across 95.1 innings in Japan in 2024. Root for quick outs on the West Coast.

    Bet: NRFI (-130)

    Minnesota Twins (-112) at Kansas City Royals (-104)

    Starting Pitchers: Joe Ryan vs. Seth Lugo

    The previous pick was about targeting struggling offenses. This pick is about focusing on stellar pitchers. Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (1-0, 3.27 ERA) and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will battle it out on Wednesday. The two hurlers have had success facing their respective divisional rivals before. Lugo has posted a 3.60 ERA in seven career appearances versus the Twins. Ryan has logged a 1.49 ERA in eight outings against the Royals.

    Lugo’s consistency is the key to success here. The veteran right-hander finished the 2024 campaign with an excellent 1.91 first-inning ERA covering 33 starts. That was the sixth-best mark in the league. He did not surrender a first-inning run to the Guardians or the Orioles in his opening two starts of 2025. Trust Lugo to torch a Minnesota squad that checks in 29th in team on-base percentage (.264).

    Let’s dive deeper into Ryan’s dominance over Kansas City. The Twins right-hander has recorded a 1.17 ERA and 0.83 WHIP through 23 innings pitched at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals were held scoreless in the first inning in all four of those starts. Overall, the trio of Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino has gone 10-for-49 with only four extra-base hits versus Ryan. Don’t expect early runs.

    Bet: NRFI (-148)

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