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Read our best NRFI betting picks today -- Major League Baseball NRFI predictions for 6/20/2025. No Runs First Inning (NRFI) betting tips, expert MLB predictions, odds, and trends.
We've got a full slate with 15 games on Friday, so there are plenty of favorable spots to target to bring you my best NRFI bets today and bonus bets. The goal is to go 4-0 on our NRFI picks, while sticking to reasonable odds, since you don't want to be laying too much juice on a volatile market like the first inning.
There are a few intriguing spots for scoreless first innings on Friday. Each game features a good pitching matchup and/or pitcher-friendly environment, including Tomoyuki Sugano vs. Max Fried, Blade Tidwell vs. Zack Wheeler, Michael Lorenzen vs. Nick Pivetta, and Hunter Dobbins vs. Hayden Birdsong.
On this page, I'll provide my best NRFI bets today for MLB games on Friday, June 20, 2025. Monitor the weather and lineups for each team before placing your wagers. Odds for these bets are from DraftKings Sportsbook.
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What Are MLB NRFI/YRFI Bets?
NRFI bets are bets where you try to pick whether or not two MLB teams will combine for one run in the first inning. YRFI stands for "Yes Run First Inning," while NRFI means "No Run First Inning."
We prefer to target NRFI because it tends to occur more often, which is why you usually see shorter odds compared to YRFI. It's also just more enjoyable -- whenever I take a YRFI, it feels like an inevitable loss. There's nothing more tilting than watching your team strand baserunners when you need them to score in the first inning. If you're taking the YRFI, I suggest not even watching the game.
The best part of NRFI wagers is how they settle so quickly. This is a fun sweat, as these six outs can be thrilling, especially if your pitcher works his way out of a jam. Just remember to only go with a smaller percentage of your bankroll because this can be a volatile market with even the best pitchers struggling in the first inning at times.
Best First Inning Bets Today (June 20, 2025)
- Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees: 7:05 pm ET
- New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies: 7:15 pm ET
- Kansas City Royals at San Diego Padres: 9:40 pm ET
- Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants: 10:15 pm ET
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees NRFI (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- BAL: Tomoyuki Sugano
- NYY: Max Fried
The first NRFI starts with an AL East clash between the Orioles and Yankees.
Baltimore is going with Sugano, who faces the Yankees at the perfect time. This is an ice-cold lineup that has 50 wRC+ (28th) and a 26.3% K% (24th) in the last seven days. We've seen the likes of Kyle Hendricks and Jack Kochanowicz dominate the Yankees in recent games.
It also helps that Sugano was terrific against the Yankees earlier this season. Back on April 28, Sugano tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts vs. New York. With that in mind, we should see the O's righty escape the first inning unscathed in this spot.
On the other side, we have Fried, who has been as good as advertised in his first season with the Yankees. The former Brave has registered a 1.89 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 90 strikeouts in 95 innings.
Max Fried’s performance this year has been special.
It’s hard enough being the ace of the New York Yankees. It’s even harder when you’re replacing Gerrit Cole.
Fried is having one of the best first seasons in pinstripes a Yankee has ever had.
pic.twitter.com/KJ8eAk1ViJ— Chris (@Chris_NYY28) June 11, 2025
What's great about this spot against Baltimore is that this is a team that has had a difficult time vs. lefties this season, as highlighted by its 70 wRC+, which ranks 28th in MLB.
With that in mind, you have to like getting a (-110) price on a NRFI considering these factors.
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies NRFI (-105 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- NYM: Blade Tidwell
- PHI: Zack Wheeler
The next NRFI focuses on one of the best pitchers in baseball. We just need the fill-in starter to do his part.
Tidwell was rocked for six runs in 3.2 innings in his lone start of the season for the Mets. However, the Phillies have never seen him before, so that unfamiliarity could help him get out of the first inning without allowing a run.
It's also worth noting that Tidwell posted a 27.7% strikeout rate in Triple-A this year. That kind of ability to miss bats could also help with the NRFI in this spot.
But the real draw with this play is Wheeler, who is having yet another dominant season for the Phillies, putting up a 2.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. The veteran has increased his strikeout rate from 28.5% to 32.5% this year.
These numbers are backed by advanced metrics as well, as highlighted by a 2.61 SIERA.
Zack Wheeler, Filthy 84mph Sweeper. 😷 pic.twitter.com/ePgk2uFtjN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 9, 2025
Getting an NRFI at -105 in a game with Wheeler on the mound is something that I just can't pass up right now. Hopefully, Tidwell can do his job for us in this one.
Kansas City Royals at San Diego Padres NRFI (-120 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- KC: Michael Lorenzen
- SD: Nick Pivetta
The third NRFI heads to San Diego, where we have a pitcher-friendly environment with cooler temperatures and a pitcher's park in Petco Park.
We'll start with Lorenzen, who has underwhelming numbers overall but has been quite effective in his first time through the order, allowing a 2.81 ERA and .280 wOBA.
There's a good chance that the veteran righty will get off to a good start in this outing, given the favorable conditions at Petco.
You also have to like that we're getting Pivetta on the other side. The Padres righty has registered a 2.40 ERA at home this season, compared to a 4.50 ERA on the road.
Nick Pivetta, Bohemian Rhapsody Fastball. 🪦⚰️ pic.twitter.com/TU07fouLeb
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 5, 2025
There's a good chance that Pivetta completely dominates this outing, which is why I'm willing to lay -120 odds on the NRFI here.
Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants NRFI (-125 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- BOS: Hunter Dobbins
- SF: Hayden Birdsong
The last NRFI on my Friday betting card starts with Dobbins, who has been excellent in his first time through the order, allowing a .244 wOBA and 2.95 ERA.
This is a pitcher who has displayed strong control in the majors so far, as highlighted by a 4.8% walk rate.
On the other side, Birdsong has similarly performed well in his first time through the order, featuring a .171 wOBA allowed in 12.2 scoreless innings.
Hayden Birdsong, 98mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/VwGeBgdHNq
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 21, 2025
Add in the fact that this game is in a pitcher-friendly environment, and you can see why I'm willing to pay a -125 price here.
Conclusion: Best MLB NRFI Bets Today (June 20, 2025)
As we head into a full Friday slate of games, today's MLB NRFI bets offer plenty of value with favorable pitching matchups and helpful trends. The focus of today's column was on pitchers who are in favorable spots or excel in the first time through the order.
Whether you're targeting pitchers with elite strikeout rates or teams on extended NRFI streaks, this slate has something for every bettor looking for that quick six-out sweat.
Be sure to monitor starting lineups and weather before locking anything in, but don’t wait too long -- some of these NRFI odds could shift as the public piles in.
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