Why The NRFI Is the Hottest Bet In Sports

One of the most thrilling wagers you can make will actually have you rooting for less action. Here's what you need to know about the No Run First Inning craze ⚾️ (3 min read)

Author

Kyle Trapp
July 15, 2022

Our very own Team Overtime will be making their TBT debut tomorrow night at 8PM EST on ESPN2. Check out our squad as they compete for the $1M winner-take-all prize 💰

Tonight's parlay is No Run First Inning in these 3 games: Mets vs. Cubs, Phillies vs. Marlins & Dodgers vs. Angels. More info below on a chance to win $100 👇

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Summer Of The NRFI

Are you someone itching to spice up the dog days of summer with a little baseball wager, but you don’t want to sit through a full 9-inning game? Have no fear, I’ve got the perfect bet for you — the NRFI 😎

  • Betting a No Run First Inning (NRFI) is simple. If neither team scores in the opening frame, you cash out

  • Watch a fresh starting pitcher take on the top of their opponents' order and hope for six strikeouts

However, if you're looking for early fireworks, you can bet the other side of the coin as well, but remember that even the best hitters fail two-thirds of the time 👀

  • The Baltimore Orioles have been the most consistent NRFI team in the league so far, with 63.6% of their games having a scoreless first

  • The Colorado Rockies lead in the other direction, with just 42% of their games escaping the first without a run

As you might guess, a good NRFI bet boils down to the two guys taking the bump for each team. Finding a matchup with two solid starters is key, and we’ve got some intriguing options worth checking out today ⬇️

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Matchups To Watch

The stars will be out in Hollywood in just a few short days for the 2022 MLB All-Star Break (team rosters here), putting a bow on a thrilling first half of the season. However, there's more action going down before then, featuring some interesting NRFI lines 👇

  • Taijuan Walker (NYM) vs. Marcus Stroman (CHC)

  • Moneyline: Mets -130 (bet $130, win $100), Cubs +110 (bet $100, win $110)

  • U 0.5 First Inning: -120

It’s definitely a stretch to say Stroman is at peak performance right now with a 4.91 ERA, but I’m a sucker for revenge games, and the former Mets' All-Star looked good in his first appearance back from injury

  • Meanwhile, Walker has been on fire for New York recently, with a 4-0 record and 1.85 ERA over his last six starts 🔥

  • Kyle Gibson (PHI) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA)

  • Moneyline: Phillies +145, Marlins -170

  • U 0.5 First Inning: -155

Gibson is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, a 7-inning, two-hit shutout of the Cardinals, and the Marlins are hardly world-beaters on offense

  • Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs. Patrick Sandoval (LAA)

  • Moneyline: Dodgers -215, Angels +180

  • U 0.5 First Inning: -111

We’ve got one heck of a pitchers duel going down in the battle for LA tonight — Kershaw and Sandoval both have a sub-3 ERA, and each struck out 10 their last time out 📈

Trivia Question: Before becoming a member of the Mets and Cubs, where did Marcus Stroman begin his MLB career? (answer below) 

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Considering I just went off about NRFI bets, you know I'm throwing a few in for the ETO squad. I'm banking on a scoreless first inning in all three games I mentioned above, and here's what the parlay looks like 👇

  • U 0.5 First Inning Mets vs. Cubs: -120

  • U 0.5 First Inning Phillies vs. Marlins: -155

  • U 0.5 First Inning Dodgers vs. Angels: -111

$100 on this bet would win you $473 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: After a standout collegiate career at Duke, Marcus Stroman was drafted in the first round by the Toronto Blue Jays, where he pitched for the first six seasons of his big league career

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Many will enter, only some will win. Giveaway ends 12 hours after the completion of the final game references within the giveaway. The winner will be notified via the email address used to enter. Restrictions apply. See the General Conditions and Releases sections of Overtime's Terms of Use at https://overtime.tv/terms for additional giveaway terms©2022 Overtime Sports, Inc. All rights reserved.