MLB Opening Day NRFI Picks: YRFI & NRFI Odds for All Games and Top Bets

• The NRFI and YRFI odds are out for all 14 MLB Opening Day games
• The NRFI is favored in every single game on Opening Day 2025
• Below, see the NRFI/YRFI odds for every game on the schedule plus NRFI picks for Opening Day

The return of Major League Baseball today also means the return of one of the most-popular forms of wagering: the NRFI (no runs in first inning) and it’s slightly less-popular cousin, the YRFI (yes runs in first inning). With 14 games on the Opening Day slate, there are 28 options on the NRFI/YRFI board. The table below sets out the NRFI/YRFI odds from every game in chronological order. Under the table, find my favorite NRFI/YRFI picks to target on Opening Day 2025.

Opening Day NRFI/YRFI Odds

The NRFI is favored over the YRFI in every single game on the Opening Day schedule, which isn’t a huge surprise given that every team has their #1 starter on the bump. The odds range from -186 in Pirates vs Marlins to to -115 in Cubs vs Diamondbacks in the final game of the day. The corresponding YRFI odds for those two games are +144 and -111, respectively.

Odds as of March 27 at FanDuel. See the available promo codes at US betting sites.

Best NRFI Pick for Opening Day: Pirates vs Marlins

My favorite NRFI pick of the day is, unfortunately, the one with the shortest odds. Pirates vs Marlins features an absolutely elite pitching matchup – Paul Skenes vs Sandy Alcantara – and two bad offenses. At least, two offenses that were bad last year and didn’t make too many notable improvements in the offseason.

Skenes starts the year as the +250 favorite in the NL Cy Young odds, while Alcantara is the sixth-favorite at +1850.

The Marlins were actually the best YRFI team last season (91-71) but that was largely thanks to a subpar starting rotation during a season that Alcantara missed entirely due to Tommy John surgery. Pittsburgh was one of the top NRFI teams, going 67-95 to the under.

Alcantara has a phenomenal history against the two players who project to be at the top of the Pittsburgh lineup, DH Andrew McCutchen and RF Bryan Reynolds; McCutchen is 1-for-11 career against the 6’5 righty with five Ks and two walks. Reynolds is 0-for-8 with two Ks and two walks.

It gets a bit dicier from there. Three-hitter Oneil Cruz is 1-for-2 with a home and cleanup hitter Joey Bart is 2-for-2 with a homer. But if Alcantara can get the first two batters, his life is going to be easier when Cruz is at the dish.

Best YRFI Pick for Opening Day: Orioles vs Blue Jays

The pitching matchup in BAL/TOR – Zach Eflin vs Jose Berrios – is solid on paper but I’m not confident in either getting out of the first inning unscathed. The 30-year-old Eflin is coming off by far the best half-season of his career. Owner of a lifetime 4.17 ERA, Eflin posted a 2.60 mark in nine starts with Baltimore after getting traded from Tampa midseason. But over the entire 2024 season, he still had a 3.81 xFIP, which is tied for his highest over the last five seasons.

The top of the Toronto order has had plenty of success against Eflin, too. While Bo Bichette is only 2-for-14, Vlad Guerrero Jr is 7-for-19 with two homers, Anthony Santander is 3-for-12 with a homer, and George Springer is 4-for-14 with a homer.

Though Gunnar Henderson – the third-favorite in the AL MVP odds – is unlikely to play for the O’s, two of Baltimore’s first four hitters have still hammered Berrios. Adley Rutschman is 13-for-22 (.591) with three long balls and four RBI, and Ryan O’Hearn is 10-for-31 (.323) with two homers and four RBI.

Toronto’s Rogers Center is an above-average HR park (103 last season, 13th-most in MLB) and I like the chances of a solo shot in the first.

As Major League Baseball’s Opening Day approaches, fans and bettors alike are gearing up for an exciting season ahead. One popular bet for MLB games is the No Run First Inning (NRFI) wager, which allows bettors to predict whether or not there will be a run scored in the first inning of a game.

For those looking to place NRFI bets on Opening Day, it’s important to consider the Young Run First Inning (YRFI) odds for each game. YRFI odds are a key factor in determining the likelihood of a run being scored in the first inning, as they take into account factors such as the starting pitchers, weather conditions, and ballpark dimensions.

When it comes to NRFI picks for Opening Day, there are several games that stand out as top bets. One game to keep an eye on is the matchup between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. With strong pitching on both sides, the NRFI odds for this game are likely to be favorable for bettors looking to wager on a scoreless first inning.

Another game to consider for NRFI bets is the showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies. With two powerhouse offenses facing off, the NRFI odds may be higher for this game, making it a risky but potentially rewarding bet for those willing to take a chance.

Overall, when making NRFI picks for MLB Opening Day, it’s important to do your research and consider all factors that could impact the outcome of the game. By analyzing YRFI odds and taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each team, bettors can make informed decisions and increase their chances of success. Good luck and happy betting!