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Read our best NRFI betting picks today - Major League Baseball NRFI predictions for 6/30/2025. No Runs First Inning (NRFI) betting tips, expert MLB predictions, odds, and trends.
What if I told you that of the eight games scheduled for this evening, five of them made good NRFI bets?
I was hoping for four, but to my surprise, we have five games that drew my interest. The odds are good tonight, too, with only one game having odds shorter than -125. Remember to only wager on the games that you feel the most confident in, because in the end, you're risking your own money on these bets, while I am risking mine.
On this page, I'll provide my best NRFI and YRFI bets today for MLB games on Monday, June 30, 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. It's also just more enjoyable, as there's nothing more tilting than watching your team strand baserunners when you need them to score in the first inning.
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 (June 30, 2025)
- San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies: 6:35 pm
- Cincinnati Reds at Boston Red Sox: 7:10 pm
- Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays: 7:35 pm
- Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers: 8:05 pm
- Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners: 9:40 pm
San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies NRFI (+100 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- SDP: Matt Waldron
- PHI: Zack Wheeler
Anytime we get an ace of Wheeler's caliber, we have to give the NRFI some strong consideration. Wheeler's track record (14-2 NRFI) is one of the best in baseball, and he gets a nice matchup here against a Padres offense that is scuffling and has posted 10 straight offensive NRFIs.
Best ERA in the Majors since May 10 (among healthy pitchers):
1. Ranger Suarez: 1.19
2. Zack Wheeler: 1.50
3. Paul Skenes: 1.57— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) June 29, 2025
So why the heck are we getting this bet at even money? Well, that's because the Padres are calling up Matt Waldron to make his first start of the 2025 season. Waldron is one of the few knuckleballers still kicking around in the major leagues, and while he can be effective when he's throwing strikes, any knuckleballer is at the risk of getting blown up if they can't control the pitch on any given night.
Walks can pile up, and knuckle balls that don't move a lot can turn into meatballs that hitters crush.
A dive into the BvP history reveals that these Philadelphia hitters haven't faced Waldron much. So, I think I'll give him the advantage the first time through the order here, as the knuckleball can take some time for hitters to adjust to.
Cincinnati Reds at Boston Red Sox NRFI (-150 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- CIN: Chase Burns
- BOS: Garrett Crochet
Chase Burns didn't disappoint in his MLB debut as he whiffed the first five Yankee hitters he faced. He ended up surrendering a few runs later in the game and ultimately losing to Carlos Rodon. Now, his second start comes against another left-handed ace, Garrett Crochet. While Crochet is a formidable opponent, the Boston offense is much less fearsome.
Chase Burns, Unhittable 93mph Back Foot Slider. 😳 pic.twitter.com/SP25vlgQzb
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 24, 2025
Boston has a wRC+ of 70 over the last two weeks against RHP, a mark that is good for 28th in the league. They also have been striking out a lot (25%) and will be seeing the fireballer Burns for the first time.
Crochet is facing a Reds team that is on the wrong side of their splits against lefties. He's reeled off four straight NRFIs and has raised his season-long NRFI record to 13-4.
These odds are juiced at -150, but for good reason. I'm okay playing it at that number or pairing with another bet in a parlay.
Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays NRFI (-125 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- ATH: Jacob Lopez
- TBR: Drew Rasmussen
I hesitated to attack the Tampa Bay Rays here as they have been one of the hottest offenses in baseball. While their offensive NRFI record over the last 10 games is 7-3, they still sport the best first-inning batting average and on-base percentage.
Jacob Lopez, Filthy 80mph Slider. 😷 pic.twitter.com/xOVsmTH2wX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 26, 2025
Flipping them around to face a lefty helps a bit as it moves Josh Lowe down in the order and puts fellow lefties Brandon Lowe and Jonathan Aranda on the wrong sides of their splits. Even the righty Junior Caminero has been better against RHP this season, too.
Athletics' starter Jacob Lopez comes in red-hot, allowing just one earned run over his last four starts while piling up 29 strikeouts. These Rays hitters haven't seen him yet, either, so the advantage goes to Lopez.
On the Tampa side, Drew Rasmussen has been quite solid all season, especially on NRFIs with a 13-3 record. He is in a good spot here against an Athletics' offense that has an 8-2 offensive NRFI record over their last 10 games.
Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers NRFI (-120 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- BAL: Trevor Rogers
- TEX: Patrick Corbin
This is a rematch of a matchup that we saw just a week ago. But pitchers tossed a clean half inning in that one, improving their NRFI records to 12-2 (Corbin) and 3-0 (Rogers).
Okay Trevor Rogers pic.twitter.com/T4Wj7lHUlO
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) June 23, 2025
Let's go right back to it, shall we? Both teams still rank in the bottom five of offenses against LHP over the last month. Corbin eventually allowed five runs in that game in later innings, but Rogers was incredibly sharp with eight innings of shutout baseball. His velocity is up on his fastball, and he's looking the best he has in several seasons.
Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners NRFI (-125 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Starting Pitchers
- KCR: Michael Wacha
- SEA: George Kirby
Finally, we have to keep riding our NRFI king, Michael Wacha. Yes, Wacha is still one of the few undefeated NRFI pitchers, boasting a stellar 16-0 record. He'll face the Mariners on the road tonight in a ballpark that favors pitching. Seattle has cooled down recently, too, and is just 7-3 on NRFIs over their last 10.
Lowest hard-hit rate allowed by starting pitchers this season (min. 200 batted balls):
1. Chris Sale (31.8%)
2. Tarik Skubal (32.1%)
3. Hunter Brown (32.2%)
4. Michael Wacha (32.4%)
5. Andrew Abbott (32.5%) pic.twitter.com/1PgI1pQUZ8— Matt Wilkes (@_MattWilkes) June 26, 2025
For Seattle, George Kirby took some time to get going, but has been pitching well of late. He brings a 5-2 NRFI record into this one and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
Notable NRFI/YRFI MLB Trends: Last 10 Games
- Best NRFI hit rate: Padres (100%)
- Best YRFI hit rate: Diamondbacks (40%)
- Most First Inning Home Runs: Cubs (5)
- Best First Inning Batting Average: Rays (.386)
- Best First Inning On-Base Percentage: Rays (.438)
Conclusion
With five strong plays on the board, NRFI bets today offer plenty of value across Monday's MLB slate.
Whether you're riding with consistent arms like Wacha or targeting poor splits like those faced by Burns, today’s matchups provide ideal spots for sharp NRFI betting.
From pitcher dominance to cold offensive trends, the data aligns for a profitable night.
For more expert insights and the best MLB NRFI bets, bookmark this page and stay ahead of the market all season long.
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