Best MLB NRFI Picks Today May 13: No Run First Inning Bets & Odds
Today’s Top NRFI Picks at a Glance
The MLB season is an annual marathon that provides months of daily betting markets to consider. While traditional player props like home runs and strikeouts remain popular options, one market that has gained momentum is betting whether no runs will be scored in the first inning — a No Run First Inning (NRFI) wager. On FanDuel Sportsbook’s MLB odds, NRFI lines appear as 1st Inning 0.5 Runs under the Innings tab for each matchup. Please note: lines can change throughout the day after this article is published.
NRFI Pick 1: Yankees vs. Orioles — No Run First Inning
Max Fried (Yankees) vs. Kyle Bradish (Orioles) May 13 5:06pm UTC
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Max Fried anchors this NRFI play. He carries a 2.41 expected ERA and a 2.91 actual ERA, numbers that reflect elite command and control in the opening frame when his fastball-curveball combo is at peak velocity and deception. Fried’s six-pitch mix is most effective in the first inning before opposing lineups adjust to his release point, and his curveball — which posts a 42% chase rate — creates early-count swing-and-miss against Baltimore’s lineup. The Orioles’ top-of-the-order features patient right-handed hitters who work counts, but Fried’s ability to generate early outs can limit first-inning traffic. Kyle Bradish offers the other side of this NRFI, and while his overall 2026 numbers have been underwhelming, his first-inning profile is steadier than his full-game ERA suggests. Bradish’s velocity is at its peak in the first frame, and his fastball-slider combination provides maximum deception before New York’s patient lineup begins working counts. He’ll need to navigate several home run threats, but he is capable of doing so.
NRFI Pick 2: Cubs vs. Braves — No Run First Inning
Shota Imanaga (Cubs) vs. Jordan Ritchie (Braves) May 13 11:16pm UTC
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Shota Imanaga’s first-inning profile serves as a strong NRFI anchor, built on a 0.93 WHIP this season that ranks among the best in the National League. He has allowed only one run across 13 innings in his last two starts while punching out 15. He’s clearly in a groove. His splitter is at maximum deception in the opening frame before Atlanta’s lineup calibrates against his release point, and the four-seam fastball the Cubs helped him refine to elevate in the zone gives him a pitch that cold hitters consistently miss above, particularly right-handed batters who struggle with rising action in the upper third. The Braves’ top-of-order lineup, weakened by the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr., features an aggressive yet clean and simple approach.
