Even with MLB's new pitch clock, you still have to wait a few hours to sweat out your MLB picks. But, with Yes/No Runs First Inning bets, you get the same betting drama and tension plus a nearly-immediate result.
Below we have a complete breakdown of the Yes/No Run First inning betting trends, the best MLB teams for each side of the wager and a complete breakdown of what these YRFI/NRFI markets are:
Yes/No First Inning Runs Betting Trends
| Team | # Games | 1st Inning Runs Scored per game | 1st Inning Runs Against per game | # Games with a run in the 1st Inning (For/Against) | # Games w/o a run in the 1st Inning (For/Against) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 48 | 0.38 | 0.67 | 27 | 21 |
| Atlanta | 47 | 0.87 | 0.32 | 24 | 23 |
| Chi Cubs | 46 | 0.43 | 0.67 | 24 | 22 |
| Cincinnati | 47 | 0.55 | 0.79 | 30 | 17 |
| Colorado | 48 | 0.44 | 0.69 | 26 | 22 |
| Miami | 48 | 0.31 | 0.27 | 16 | 32 |
| Houston | 47 | 0.66 | 0.3 | 20 | 27 |
| LA Dodgers | 49 | 0.78 | 0.61 | 30 | 19 |
| Milwaukee | 47 | 0.49 | 0.45 | 24 | 23 |
| Washington | 47 | 0.62 | 0.45 | 24 | 23 |
| NY Mets | 48 | 0.21 | 0.88 | 25 | 23 |
| Philadelphia | 47 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 27 | 20 |
| Pittsburgh | 47 | 0.53 | 0.77 | 28 | 19 |
| San Diego | 47 | 0.64 | 0.45 | 23 | 24 |
| San Francisco | 47 | 0.72 | 0.36 | 25 | 22 |
| St. Louis | 49 | 0.73 | 0.59 | 33 | 16 |
| LA Angels | 49 | 0.69 | 0.55 | 27 | 22 |
| Baltimore | 47 | 0.26 | 0.57 | 22 | 25 |
| Boston | 48 | 0.65 | 0.83 | 29 | 19 |
| Chi White Sox | 49 | 0.45 | 0.65 | 24 | 25 |
| Detroit | 45 | 0.62 | 0.42 | 24 | 21 |
| Kansas City | 49 | 0.57 | 0.57 | 29 | 20 |
| Minnesota | 48 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 24 | 24 |
| NY Yankees | 49 | 0.59 | 0.67 | 29 | 20 |
| Oakland | 49 | 0.41 | 0.63 | 24 | 25 |
| Seattle | 47 | 0.43 | 0.51 | 26 | 21 |
| Tampa Bay | 49 | 0.78 | 0.24 | 23 | 26 |
| Texas | 47 | 0.64 | 0.3 | 22 | 25 |
| Toronto | 48 | 0.38 | 0.75 | 19 | 29 |
| Cleveland | 47 | 0.53 | 0.47 | 28 | 19 |
Cardinals Top YRFI Bet
While the season isn't going according to plan for St. Louis, the Cards have been paying out YRFI bettors more than any other team. The Cardinals have started the 2023 season with first inning runs in 33 of their first 49, on the back of 0.73 runs for in the opening frame.
The top of the Cardinals' lineup includes 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt, red hot slugger Nolan Gorman, and ever-dangerous Nolan Arenado. Also helping out the YRFI cause is St. Louis' rotation, where no starting pitcher has a sub-4.50 ERA. In St. Louis, first inning runs against are always in play.
Guess it wasn't the jersey.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 16, 2023
FOUR straight games with a home run for Nado! pic.twitter.com/AMTSKPnxh2
Dodgers Strong First Inning Team
The Dodgers currently sit atop the NL, and they also second in MLB in runs scored in the first inning.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Max Muncy make for a terrifying top-of-lineup that has helped bettors cash the YRFI all season. Los Angeles' runs against in the first inning sit around league average, so you might have to rely on its star hitters to cash your bet more often than its opponent.
Marlins Great NRFI Squad
On the flip side, the Marlins have the dream combination for a No Runs First Inning bet: stagnant hitting and great starting pitching. Through 48 games, the Marlins rank third-worst in MLB with 167 runs scored (3.47 per game) to go alongside some great starting pitching in Jesus Luzardo and Sandy Alcantara. These two sides of their roster combine for the league's best NRFI bet: 32-16.
That lack of offense is the same problem Miami had last year and the same problem they tried to fix with offseason additions Luis Arraez, Jean Segura, and Yuli Gurriel. But, this year's team looks like the same old Marlins. It’s not great for Miami’s offense, but it’s perfect for NRFI bets!
What Are YRFI/NRFI Bets?
YRFI/NRFI stands for 'Yes Run First Inning' or 'No Run First Inning'. Simply put, this is a betting market where you're predicting if there will or will not be at least one run scored in the first inning of a game. This run can come from either team, in the top or bottom half of the inning. It's just an OVER/UNDER 0.5 runs scored wager for the first inning of game. Here's an example of what the market would look like at your MLB sportsbook:
Will There Be a 1st Inning Run In the Brewers vs Cardinals Game?
- Yes Run -115
- No Run -115
Many YRFI/NRFI odds are close to even money for both sides of the wager. In this case, a winning $100 bet on either side of the market would pay out $186.96, per our odds calculator. You just pick if you think the Brewers and/or the Cards will get to the starting pitchers early, and choose which side you're riding with.
