NRFI Today: Best MLB NRFI Bets and Predictions for Sunday, May 17
Rivalry weekend has been a success for Major League Baseball. We've had walk-off endings and baseballs pulverized into oblivion. Sunday is getaway day for most teams, and you may catch some soft lineups to give veterans a rest before an off-day Monday. That's where we cash some NRFI bets!
Aces are wild as Pittsburgh Pirates stud Paul Skenes toes the rubber against Philadelphia Phillies righty Zack Wheeler. That's just one matchup we'll be watching to make sure home plate stays clean in the first inning.
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change. DraftKings does not sponsor this content.
Best NRFI Bets Today
Philadelphia Phillies at Pittsburgh Pirates NRFI (-155)
Skenes is up to his usual dominance with a 6-2 record and a 1.98 ERA. He has had issues in the first inning with eight earned runs in nine starts, which is crazy, considering he has allowed 11 earned runs all season. The good news, though, is they came in two starts, including a meltdown Opening Day, which he lasted two-thirds of an inning and gave up five runs. He has gone 16 shutout innings, allowing four hits, no walks and whiffing 17 in his last two turns. Wheeler is making his fifth start back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA on the campaign. He has allowed just one earned run in four first frames.
Cleveland Guardians at Cincinnati Reds NRFI (-130)
We've seen some fireworks with 7-6 and 7-4 finals in this series, but none of the runs came in the first inning. Guardians righty Gavin Williams is one of the better pitchers you may not have heard about. He's 5-3 with a 3.74 ERA and a 10.7 K/9 on the season. He has had some flareups in the first, though, with a 5.00 ERA in the first. Reds starter Brady Singer has a 7.00 ERA in the first this season. However, based on recent trends, it has taken an inning or two for these offenses to start firing.
Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays NRFI (-145)
RHP Eury Perez, who goes for Miami, has a 5.00 ERA in the first inning this season. However, that damage came in just two of his nine starts. RHP Drew Rasmussen goes for Tampa, and he has allowed three earned runs in the first over eight starts. He has allowed only four hits in that process. The NRFI cashed in this matchup Saturday and looks poised to do so again.
What Does NRFI Mean in Baseball?
The term NRFI indicates no runs scored in the first inning. Its opposite, YRFI, indicates yes, a run will be scored in the first inning. It doesn't matter if the run qualifies as an earned run or not. If a run crosses the plate in the first inning for either team, the wager loses for the NRFI side and wins for the YRFI side.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 7:30 AM.