No Run First Inning (NRFI) wagers offer a fast-paced way to cash in before most fans find their seats. With no-run first inning predictions today and NRFI stats at your disposal, we'll arm you with smarter bets for the week of July 29 through August 4, 2025 as it has several juicy NRFI spots. Below we break down the top matchups, including date, teams, probable pitchers, and why the first inning should stay scoreless. We’ll also show how WagerLens’s NRFI prop cards make these insights easy to spot for smarter betting. Use this post as your guide when creating your NRFI cheat sheet.
Why Focus on NRFI Bets?
NRFI bets capitalize on predictability: you know exactly which pitchers and hitters start the game. First innings are scoreless about 57–58% of the time league-wide – even higher than other innings – and strong pitching or weak top-of-order lineups can push those odds further in our favor. WagerLens’s NRFI cards highlight hot pitching trends and weak top orders in one view, saving you hours of research. Let’s apply that edge to develop our best NRFI bets for this week.
Tuesday, July 29: Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds
Probable Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow (LAD) vs. Nick Lodolo (CIN)
- Pitchers’ First-Inning Stats: This is a duel of strikeout artists with excellent NRFI stats. Glasnow has a 2.75 ERA since joining the Dodgers, and Lodolo sports a 3.08 ERA with over a strikeout per inning. Both tend to start games locked in: Lodolo’s first-inning WHIP is low thanks to his nasty curve, and Glasnow’s power fastball/slider combo often shuts down the top of the order. A game like this is a prime candidate for the best no run first inning bets today. If you’re following NRFI predictions, keep this one on your radar.
- Lineup and Trend Analysis: The Dodgers and Reds are ironically two of the higher first-inning scoring teams in MLB (each averaging ~0.68 runs in the 1st). However, something’s got to give when elite pitching is on the mound. Glasnow is capable of neutralizing Cincinnati’s young stars (he can handle lefty bats like Elly De La Cruz), and Lodolo, a lefty, matches up well against the Dodgers’ lefty-heavy power (he’s handled southpaw sluggers before). WagerLens would flag this as a classic strength-on-strength matchup – a potent offense vs. a stellar starter – requiring extra scrutiny.
- Venue Factors: Great American Ball Park is a bandbox where one mistake can leave the yard. Summer humidity in Cincinnati means the ball carries more, so this NRFI isn’t without risk. The WagerLens prop card for this game would likely flash a caution if recent weather or trend shifts favor offense. Still, both pitchers’ talent gives the edge to a scoreless first.
- Expected Odds: Due to the strong offenses, the NRFI could be near even money (-105 to -115). If you see anything around those odds, it’s a reasonable play – essentially betting on two frontline pitchers to win the first-inning battle against two aggressive lineups.
Friday, August 1: Arizona Diamondbacks at The Athletics
Probable Pitchers: Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs. JP Sears (OAK) (projected)
- Key NRFI Angles: This game is a convergence of cold-start tendencies. The D-backs have been notoriously sluggish in the first inning – WagerLens recently highlighted Arizona’s low early scoring trend. The A's, meanwhile, has one of the weakest top-of-order lineups in baseball (their 1–2 hitters are contact guys with minimal power). Don’t be surprised if neither side threatens in the first frame.
- Pitching Matchup: Merrill Kelly (3.38 ERA) is a savvy veteran who rarely beats himself early; he’s adept at suppressing hard contact in the opening inning. Opposite him, JP Sears (around 4.00 ERA) is the A’s steadiest starter and a lefty who can neutralize some of Arizona’s top bats. In his first innings this year, Sears has quietly been effective, often escaping without damage even against stronger teams.
- Park & Weather: This series is being played at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento (the A’s temporary home park), which plays large like the Oakland Coliseum. Night games here see heavy air – a boon for pitchers. Foul territory is expansive, yielding extra outs on pop-ups. All told, conditions favor an NRFI: pitchers can attack hitters without fear that a routine fly ball will sneak out.
- Expected Odds: Given both teams’ reputations for slow starts, the NRFI might be moderately juiced (perhaps -125 to -135 range). It’s justified. A WagerLens NRFI prop card would immediately show Arizona’s first-inning run rate and Oakland’s (likely bottom-three in MLB) for a clear visual cue to lean NRFI. This is a classic case of “weak top orders” that WagerLens prompts you to target. The best no run first inning bets often come from matchups like this, where one team is consistently slow to start, and the other has strong pitching in the opening frame.
Saturday, August 2: San Francisco Giants at New York Mets
Probable Pitchers: Kodai Senga (NYM) vs. Carson Seymour (SF)
- Ace vs. Unknown: Kodai Senga has been nothing short of dominant. With a 1.79 ERA and a 7–3 record by this point, he’s in NL Cy Young form and virtually untouchable in the first inning. Senga’s forkball often yields strikeouts or weak grounders from the outset. On the other side, the Giants are likely using rookie Carson Seymour (3.00 ERA in limited action) as an opener/spot starter. While Seymour is unproven, he has shown composure in his brief MLB time – enough to get three up, three down if he hits his spots.
- Matchup Trends: The Mets’ offense has been inconsistent and sometimes slow to get going, especially without a classic leadoff spark this year. The Giants, meanwhile, tend to shuffle their lineup and often lack a true power threat at 1-2-3 (no Giant is in the NL top 30 for first-inning OPS). WagerLens data would note if either team has been on a first-inning scoring streak or drought; in this case, New York’s recent first-inning performance has been middling, and San Francisco’s early bats have been cold on their road trip.
- WagerLens Prop Card Insight: A glance at the WagerLens NRFI card for this game would show Senga’s microscopic first-inning ERA and perhaps a high first-inning strikeout rate. It would also show the Giants’ first-inning run percentage, which is fairly low on the road. Those green flags on Senga, combined with no red flags on the lineups, point to a scoreless first.
- Expected Odds: Because one pitcher is a question mark, sportsbooks might list NRFI around -110. That presents value – essentially you’re betting on Senga to dominate as usual and the Giants’ young arm to handle a lukewarm Mets top order for one frame. If WagerLens’s odds comparison shows comparable lines across books, you know you’re getting a fair price.
Sunday, August 3: Detroit Tigers at Philadelphia Phillies
Probable Pitchers: Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. Zack Wheeler (PHI)
- Elite Pitchers, Elite Results: This is the NRFI marquee matchup of the week. Both Skubal and Wheeler are leading Cy Young conversations in their leagues. Skubal is 10–2 with an AL-best sub-2.50 ERA, often cruising through first innings with a near-0.00 ERA in the opening frame (he didn’t allow a first-inning run in 9 of his last 10 starts). Wheeler (NL ERA ~2.60) has similarly strong first-inning numbers and thrives at home, feeding off the energy at Citizens Bank Park. When WagerLens shows you these two pitchers’ first-inning ERAs side by side, it practically screams NRFI.
- Lineup Factors: The Phillies have a formidable lineup, but note the matchup specifics: Skubal is a lefty, which helps neutralize Philly’s left-handed power (Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber) in the first inning. On the other side, Detroit’s offense is one of the weakest in MLB early in games. The Tigers score in the first inning at a very low rate (near the bottom of MLB), and Wheeler’s electric fastball/slider combo should dominate Detroit’s young hitters.
- Ballpark & Weather: Philadelphia in August can be hitter-friendly with the warm air, but on Sunday expect an evening game (this matchup was flexed to Sunday Night Baseball for the pitching duel hype). Cooler night temps and the pressure of primetime can actually aid pitchers – and these two won’t mind the spotlight.
- Expected Odds: This NRFI will be a popular bet, so expect a heavier juice, perhaps -140. It might not be the biggest payout, but sometimes “no runs” is as close to a sure thing as you get in betting. WagerLens users can quickly confirm this by seeing both teams’ recent first-inning stats and shopping the odds on one screen. When the data backs it up (as it does here), laying the chalk on an NRFI involving two ace-caliber arms is a sharp play.
To tie it all together, here’s a summary table of the recommended NRFI games, with key reasons for each:
| Date | Matchup (Probable Starters) | NRFI Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, July 29, 2025 | Dodgers @ Reds (Glasnow vs. Lodolo) | Power arms vs. power bats. Glasnow (2.75 ERA) and Lodolo (3.08) excel early, offsetting two of MLB’s higher 1st-inning scoring offenses. A strength-on-strength showdown – trust the arms. |
| Fri, Aug 1, 2025 | D-backs @ Athletics (Kelly vs. Sears) | Arizona and Oakland both start slow (WagerLens flagged D-Backs’ cold 1st innings). Kelly’s veteran poise + A’s anemic offense (worst in MLB early) = scoreless start, especially in a pitcher-friendly park. |
| Sat, Aug 2, 2025 | Giants @ Mets (Senga vs. Seymour) | Senga’s dominance (sub-2.00 ERA) anchors this pick. Giants likely counter with a rookie, but NY’s lineup is lukewarm early. WagerLens NRFI card shows huge pitching edge for NYM and no strong first-inning hitters on SF. |
| Sun, Aug 3, 2025 | Tigers @ Phillies (Skubal vs. Wheeler) | Aces duel on Sunday night. Skubal (reigning Cy Young) vs. Wheeler (Cy frontrunner) – both rarely allow 1st-inning runs. Detroit’s weak top order should falter vs. Wheeler, and Philly’s sluggers face a tough lefty. NRFI heavy favorite. |
Each of these games offers a blend of strong starting pitching and/or weak early-lineup offense – the perfect recipe for NRFI success. Of course, anything can happen in one inning, but that’s where savvy analysis and tools come in. Using WagerLens NRFI prop cards, you can verify these insights yourself: see pitchers’ first-inning ERAs, team 1st-inning scoring percentages, and even shop the odds across sportsbooks in real time. This information-rich approach lets you bet smarter and faster, zeroing in on the best NRFI plays without the hours of stat scouring.
Bottom Line: The first inning is often the calmest part of a baseball game – and the best time to strike with a smart bet. This week’s matchups feature several ideal NRFI opportunities. Leverage the data (and WagerLens’s visual NRFI cards) to ride these scoreless first frames to the bank. Good luck, and enjoy the rush of winning your bet before the peanuts and Cracker Jack are even finished!
Sources: The pitching and team stats referenced are from official MLB game logs and odds analyses, and WagerLens’s own NRFI research & tools which highlight first-inning trends and betting value. All odds/speculations are subject to change, so always double-check the latest data on WagerLens before placing your bet.