The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals meet again this afternoon, and that matchup will headline my favorite MLB picks today in the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best NRFI and YRFI MLB picks for Saturday, May 16.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
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Team at Team: Royals at Cardinals (-104)
The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals continue their three-game set today. It was a scoreless first in the series opener, and I am expecting another here.
Royals starter Noah Cameron has allowed a run in the opening frame just once this season in seven outings, while Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy owns a 7-1 NRFI/YRFI record, tossing seven straight clean first innings.
Offensively, the Cardinals have failed to come across the plate in three straight games in the first, while the Royals have three scoreless first innings in their last five contests, and Kansas City is currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak.
- Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Royals.TV, Cardinals.TV
Team at Team: Blue Jays at Tigers (-117)
The Toronto Blue Jays have Mason Fluharty on the mound this afternoon, who is typically a reliever.
He's made one start, and while he did allow a run in the opening inning, the Detroit Tigers aren't usually a team that scores a lot in the first. Out of 45 games, they've had 32 scoreless first innings as an offense.
The Jays, meanwhile, have failed to create offense in the first inning in four straight, and they will be up against Casey Mize, who returns from injury. He's also come out unscathed in the first inning in all six of his starts in 2026.
- Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: DSN, Sportsnet
Phillies at Pirates: NRFI (-122)
While the series opener between the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates saw 20 runs scored, they both didn't come across the plate in the first inning.
There's a high chance that it will happen again today, with two solid arms on the hill. Cristopher Sanchez owns a 2.11 ERA, and he has a 7-2 NRFI/YRFI record.
As for Bubba Chandler, he has only allowed a run in the first inning once across eight outings this season. The Phils haven't scored in the opening frame in three consecutive games, while the Bucs haven't crossed the plate in the first in two of their previous three contests.
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBCSP, SportsNet Pittsburgh
- NRFI/YRFI picks: 7-12, 0.75 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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