The No Run First Inning (NRFI) bet has become one of the most popular bets in baseball, including at Pennsylvania sportsbooks. Why sit through an entire game when your bet can get settled in the first inning?
All bettors need is six precious outs with no run scoring to start the game. While an NRFI sounds like a shoo-in, it’s actually not the easiest bet to win. This page will take you through everything you need to know about how to bet NRFI markets in Major League Baseball.
Best PA sportsbooks for NRFI betting
Most of the top PA online sportsbooks offer No Run First Inning bets that are easy to find within the apps.
Caesars Sportsbook PA titles the NRFI market differently than most. When clicking into the game, a dropdown appears at the bottom of the popular tab that reads “Any Run In 1st Inning?” While the bet is listed under the popular tab, Caesars does not have a layout where you can bet by inning. That is the only first-inning market that appears to be available.
BetMGM Sportsbook PA has its NRFI bet on the “main” page located in the middle of other markets. It’s labeled “Will there be a run in the 1st inning?” BetMGM doesn’t appear to display the odds as strategically as other PA sportsbooks. The rest of BetMGM’s props are outlined on one page, making it more difficult to read each and every one.
Navigating the NRFI market on BetRivers Sportsbook PA is also rather simple. By clicking into the game, BetRivers has rectangular tabs that dropdown. It has one that specifically reads “Inning 1” under the “Game Props” tab. A dropdown of market ensues and the NRFI market is the second bet available. BetRivers’ odds compare well to FanDuel’s.
FanDuel Sportsbook PA has a tab that says “Innings,” as the NRFI market is the fifth market listed. FanDuel also typically offers the best odds when compared to other PA sportsbooks. It also has quite a few other first-inning markets.
Other quality sportsbooks to consider are:
PA sports betting apps NRFI bet boosts and insurance offerings
BetMGM and Caesars both have dropdown boxes after clicking into the games, with the NRFI market further down the page. BetRivers also has a dropdown feature that’s labeled “Inning 1,” with the NRFI bet listed second.
Caesars offers NRFI odds boost on most days. The operator chooses three games in which all three NRFI bets must be successful to win the bet. It’s essentially a three-leg NRFI parlay. The boost is priced at around +600.
BetMGM provides a PA sports betting bonus through NRFI insurance of up to $25 every Friday. If your NRFI bet loses, but only one run is scored in the first inning, you’ll get your $25 back in the form of a bonus bet.
What is an NRFI bet?
First off, NRFI stands for No Run First Inning. The game must be scoreless after the first inning to win an NRFI bet.
What is a YRFI?
A YRFI is the opposite of an NRFI. It stands for Yes Run First Inning. If at least one run crosses the plate in the top or bottom of the first inning, this bet is a winner. The score after the first inning could be 1-0 or 5-4. Either way, the YRFI bet would win.
What does an NRFI/YRFI bet look like on a PA sports betting app?
It’s rare if a Pennsylvania sportsbook refers to the popular bet as an NRFI/YRFI. Sportsbooks have a tab that says “innings” or “1st inning” to be able to bet an NRFI.
Here is how to bet NRFI markets, as most PA online sportsbooks display it on their apps:
Runs – 1st inning:
- Over 0.5 (-120) / Under 0.5 (-110)
No Run First Inning betting odds explained
Odds for a No Run First Inning largely depend on the starting pitchers for the game. With two good starting pitchers facing off, the vig for an NRFI bet favors the sportsbook. In other words, the sportsbook charges you more.
For example, last year’s MLB All-Star Game features the best pitchers in the league. Each manager selects the best All-Star to start the game.
The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Diamondbacks’ Zach Gallen started the Midsummer Classic. Most sportsbooks priced the NRFI at -145 because of how good each pitcher is. Most YRFI bets were set at -115.
That is not always the case, however. For example, let’s say you are doing some Pirates betting and the Pittsburgh starter has an ERA of 4.44 in 17 starts, while the opposing starter has an ERA of 7.00 through 15 starts. With two pitchers having rough years, a sportsbook might price the NRFI at +120 while putting the YRFI at -135.
Another good example of a lopsided NRFI bet is often seen at Colorado Rockies home games. Because of the thin air at Coors Field, the game total for Rockies home games are set at 10-12 runs or even higher. Therefore, the likelihood of NRFI is lower there than at the average game. In one recent starting pitching matchup between a couple of struggling starters at Coors Field, the NRFI and YRFI markets were as follows:
- Over 0.5 runs 1st inning: -190
- Under 0.5 runs 1st inning: +145
That’s one of the more uneven NRFI/YRFI prices you’ll ever see.
Why has the NRFI bet become so popular?
The NRFI market has become a popular MLB betting option today because of the quick-hitting results. With baseball occupying the sports calendar during the slow summer months, sitting through a nine-inning game isn’t the easiest of tasks.
Because the bet is settled in the first inning, bettors are getting results usually within 20 minutes, especially with MLB enforcing the new pitch clock.
Pros and cons of betting NRFI on PA online sportsbooks
Just like any other market, NRFI betting has its pros and cons:
Pros
- You know your result in approximately 20 minutes, often less
- You don’t have to sit through the entire game before your bet can settle
- Handicapping first innings isn’t too difficult
Cons
- NRFI bets don’t hit as much as you think
- The NRFI record in 2023 is well below .500
- Odds aren’t always favorable, especially with two top pitchers facing each other
Other first inning markets
There are other variations of first-inning bets you can make wagers on using PA sportsbooks. Some offer a three-way first-inning result market. For instance, Phillies betting against the Padres would look like this:
- Padres: +250
- Phillies: +250
- Tie: +105
You could bet a tie, and if the score is 0-0 after the first inning, you’d win the bet. However, this is not technically an NRFI bet. The score could be tied at 2-2 and you’d still win this specific bet.
Other first-inning markets sportsbooks offer include:
- Over/Under runs for one team
- Hits allowed
- Pitches thrown
- Home runs
- Strikeouts
NRFI betting and responsible gambling
Since an NRFI bet settles so quickly, it’s important for bettors to remain responsible. While games start at all different times throughout the country, it’s easy to place several NRFI bets throughout any given day. Losing an NRFI should not result in placing several more to recoup the loss.
All PA sportsbooks have responsible gambling tools in place to help protect bettors. Some of them include:
- Deposit limits
- Spending limits
- Cool-off periods
- Self-exclusion
It is important not to chase losing bets. We recommend making use of these tools to help keep your sports betting responsibe.