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Read our best NRFI betting picks today - Major League Baseball NRFI predictions for 8/8/2025. No Runs First Inning (NRFI) betting tips, expert MLB predictions, odds, and trends.
I try not to speak in hyperbole, but this may be my favorite NRFI slate of the season so far! It's not about the number of NRFI bets tonight; it's about the confidence in each bet that gets me excited about a potential sweep.
Monday, I went big with six bets and finished 3-3 (again, this happened the week before as well), but today I have my standard four NRFI bets for your consideration, each of them with multiple trends and stats that back up the picks.
On this page, I'll provide my best NRFI bets today for MLB games on Friday, August 8, 2025. Monitor the weather and lineups for each team before placing your wagers. Odds for these bets are from DraftKings or FanDuel 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 frequently, which is why you usually see shorter odds than on YRFI. This strategy can change on a slate with worse pitching options, and we have seen offenses start to push back against the NRFI in the summer months, when hitting conditions are better.
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. 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.
Best First Inning Bets Today (August 8, 2025)
- LA Angels at Detroit Tigers: 7:10 pm
- Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers: 8:05 pm
- New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers: 8:10 pm
- Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners: 9:40 pm
Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers NRFI (-145 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- LAA: Kyle Hendricks
- DET: Tarik Skubal
Let's kick things off with the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal (don't say that to RotoBaller Radio's Real Talk Raph!), facing off against the veteran soft-tosser, Kyle Hendricks. The two pitchers couldn't be more different in their approach; however, both have had some solid success in securing NRFIs this season, as Hendricks is 15-6 and Tarik Skubal is 19-3.
Tarik Skubal has it all WORKING today!
9 strikeouts through 5 innings 😳 pic.twitter.com/I82JyMEubG
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2025
The chances of Skubal dominating the Angels in the first are high, but his immense talent is baked into these odds, too. The key here for me that makes this bet worth taking is Hendricks' solid recent form (three-game NRFI streak) paired with Detroit's recent struggles at the plate (9-1 offensive NRFI record over their last 10 games).
Hendricks hasn't even allowed a baserunner in his last three starts. He pitches to contact, but is the closest thing to a modern-day Greg Maddux with his ability to paint the corners with low-velocity pitches that have solid movement. While Skubal is the guy who's more likely to rack up the strikeouts on the highlight reel, I have some faith in Hendricks to continue his first-inning effectiveness and efficiency tonight.
Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers NRFI (-140 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- PHI: Cristopher Sanchez
- TEX: Merrill Kelly
If there's one spot that might be a better matchup for a pitcher than the Angels vs. Skubal, it just might be Sanchez against the Rangers. Texas ranks 18th in wRC+ against LHP over the last month and has a 27.7% K%. Sanchez has been dealing all season long, but has been lights out in the second half so far.
Sanchez is 18-4 on NRFIs this season and has a 13-game NRFI streak intact. He hasn't allowed a single baserunner in three straight starts and has piled up 23 strikeouts over those games.
Is Cristopher Sánchez the most underrated pitcher in MLB?
2025 stats:
9 wins
2.55 ERA
130.2 IP
139 Ks pic.twitter.com/WqAQYidrke— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2025
So the case for Sanchez is pretty easy, but I always worry a bit about pitchers facing the Phillies with the home run power of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at the top of the order. However, Merrill Kelly has handled both hitters quite well in his career, limiting Harper to a .250 average with no home runs and Schwarber to a .182 average without any dingers.
Kelly's NRFI record is just 14-9 this season, but he's been great lately, reeling off five straight NRFIs. His strong second half has continued as a member of the Rangers, as he limited Seattle to just two runs on four hits in his Texas debut.
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers NRFI (-130 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- NYM: Kodai Senga
- MIL: Brandon Woodruff
It might seem hard to believe, but Kodai Senga is the one pitcher from today's picks whom I have the least amount of confidence in. While he brings a stellar 13-4 NRFI record into this matchup, he's been pushing his luck by allowing baserunners (1.35 first-inning WHIP) and having to work his way out of some jams. He's also allowed three first-inning home runs this season, and we know home runs are instant NRFI killers.
However, I am backing Senga today against the Brewers anyway. He has six straight NRFIs and good enough stuff to shut down any offense on any given day. While the Brewers have been fairly unstoppable lately in the win column, they are just 3-7 on YRFIs over their last 10 games. They often do their biggest damage in the middle and late innings.
Brandon Woodruff has been unreal since returning from injury:
28.1 IP
2.22 ERA
0.64 WHIP
37 K | 4 BBThe Brewers got him back at the perfect time. pic.twitter.com/xyjaFTorBh
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 2, 2025
Now let's talk about the comeback story of the season. Brandon Woodruff has returned from Tommy John surgery and looked as dominant as ever. He's 4-1 on NRFIs through his first five starts and has an elite 0.64 WHIP. He's simply not issuing many free passes (3.8% BB%), and he's been freezing hitters by locating his pitches on the corners with the utmost precision.
The Mets, like the Brewers, are 3-7 on offensive YRFIs in their last 10 games. If you're worried about Juan Soto, don't be, as he's just 1-9 against Woodruff in 10 career at-bats.
Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners NRFI (-130 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- TBR: Drew Rasmussen
- SEA: Luis Castillo
This pitching matchup doesn't hold a candle to the others, but we shouldn't sleep on it either, as Rasmussen is having a strong season for the Rays, and Castillo (despite his drop in strikeouts) has been a NRFI king with a 22-1 NRFI record this season.
Luis Castillo's 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/NRRtQkkIS3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 8, 2025
Rasmussen will face a dangerous group of Seattle hitters in the first inning, but I'll point out that the Mariners are just 2-8 on offensive YRFIs in their last 10 games, with just a .167 batting average in the first frame.
On the other side, the Rays have been pretty good early with a 5-5 record on YRFIs over their last 10 games. However, they've manufactured a lot of those runs and have just a .286 batting average in the first inning. In the last month, Tampa's wRC+ of just 92 against RHP ranks 27th in MLB.
While we don't have true aces in this matchup, we do have two very effective starters with solid track records this season, and I think they can bring it home for us in the nightcap.
Notable NRFI/YRFI MLB Trends: Last 10 Games
- Best NRFI hit rate: Rangers, Cardinals (100%)
- Best YRFI hit rate: Pirates (70%)
- Most First Inning Home Runs: Pirates (6)
- Best First Inning Batting Average: Pirates (.449)
- Best First Inning On-Base Percentage: Pirates (.517)
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