Reds vs. Astros MLB No Runs First Inning NRFI (Saturday)
Saturday brings along another jam-packed slate of MLB games. As you enjoy the weekend baseball, let's dive into the top No Runs First Inning (NRFI) picks and predictions.
If you’re unfamiliar with NRFI bets, it’s pretty simple. We’re betting on whether or not any runs will be scored in the first inning by either team. Both starting pitchers must pitch a scoreless first inning for the bet to cash.
We have two picks for Saturday featuring the Rangers vs. the Tigers and the Reds vs. the Astros. Let’s get to my favorite NRFI plays for Saturday, May 10th’s game Reds vs. Astros.
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Team View
- MLB NRFI/YRFI Cheat Sheet - Matchup View
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- MLB Consensus Odds
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Saturday’s Best MLB No Runs First Innings (NRFI) Picks: Reds vs. Astros
(All odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)
Reds vs. Astros
Starting Pitchers: Brady Singer vs. Lance McCullers Jr.
Lance McCullers Jr. finally returned to the big-league mound last weekend. After not pitching since 2022, the veteran right-hander tossed 3.2 shutout innings in his season debut for Houston. It remains to be seen how McCullers will hold up this year, but we can at least hope he anchors our first NRFI pick today.
Of course, McCullers doesn't have any recent first-inning data to rely on. However, he boasts a strong previous NRFI track record. The Astros right-hander posted a 7-1 NRFI record in the 2022 season, his last in the Majors before now. He had an elite 23-5 NRFI mark in 2021 as well. McCullers has also held hitters to a .218 batting average in the first inning across his career.
Admittedly, it's risky to trust McCullers in any capacity until he's consistently proven his health and effectiveness. Yet, those are some impressive first-inning numbers for a guy who also gets to pitch at home today. He faces a Reds offense that has just a .287 wOBA and .212 batting average versus righties over the past week.
On the other side, Cincinnati starter Brady Singer has a 5-2 NRFI record this season with a .167 batting average allowed in the first inning. Last year, he posted a 26-6 NRFI record (81%) with a 1.97 ERA and .217 batting average against in the first inning. These are reliable numbers on their own.
Singer offers even more confidence because of today's matchup. Houston has arguably the league's worst first-inning offense this season. The Astros rank last in wOBA (.217), wRC+ (36) and runs scored (seven) in the opening frame. Their .183 batting average against righties in the first inning is the worst in the league.
Pick: NRFI (-132)