Best NRFI Bets Tonight: No Run First Inning Picks for Tuesday, July 1

Following a first-inning result in the Reds vs. Red Sox game that we'll never speak of again, we're back with our two best NRFI picks today.

Andrew Brennan

Last Updated: July 1, 2025 5:16 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Best NRFI Bets Tonight: Picks & Predictions for Tuesday, July 1 — Pictured: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0). Photo by Jeff Curry / Imagn Images.

Let's agree to never talk about that first inning of the Reds vs. Red Sox game again, deal? OK, now that we've got that out of the way, let's dive into our best NRFI bets tonight for Tuesday, July 1. Dustin Saracini is out for Canada Day, which means you're stuck with me for both our NRFI bets and my usual best home run predictions tonight.

Naturally, on Dinger Tuesday, we're looking to bet on runs, so we're faced with quite the predicament here. However, I think I've found two games that should still be scoreless after the first inning. (Editor's note: That's down to one after Brewers vs. Mets was postponed - hope for clear skies in Pittsburgh!)

All of these plays are one-unit wagers unless specified otherwise.

Best NRFI picks today: Tuesday, July 1

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-145 via BetMGM)
~~Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets (-125 via DraftKings)~~

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Cardinals vs. Pirates - 6:40 p.m. ET

Andre Pallante (4.43 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (2.12 ERA)
NRFI record: Cardinals (41-45) vs. Pirates (49-37)

We backed Skenes - plus the Pirates' anemic offense - in his last start against the Brewers and cashed our NRFI bet. So we're going back to the well.

Skenes owns the fourth-lowest ERA among qualified starting pitchers this season, and as you can see by the Pirates' sparkling NRFI record, they aren't exactly starting games with fireworks even when he's not pitching.

Sure, you may be slightly scared off by the fact that Pallante isn't especially good, but we're looking at somewhat of an unstoppable force vs. immovable object here. Except it's a fairly stoppable force (Pallante) vs. an extraordinarily movable object (the Pirates' lineup, which is one of the five worst offenses in baseball).

There's a reason most of our other best sports betting sites have this priced at -160. Take advantage of this number at BetMGM.

Confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best NRFI bets today: -145 via BetMGM

💡 More MLB predictions today

Home run predictions
Best NRFI bets today
Cardinals vs. Pirates prediction
Guardians vs. Cubs prediction

❓ Best NRFI bets today FAQs

What is a NRFI bet?

A NRFI bet is a wager on a matchup to go scoreless in the first inning. You can either wager “No Runs First Inning” or “Yes Runs First Inning” depending on the type of bet you'd like to make.

How do I place a NRFI bet?

To place a NRFI bet, simply go to your favorite sportsbook, head over to the market and game of your choice. Then click on “first inning.” You should see an option to bet on a NRFI or a YRFI from there.

Can you parlay a NRFI bet?

The simple answer is yes! Just like making any parlay, you can combine two or more NRFIs across the MLB slate for any given day.

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Written by:
Andrew Brennan

Andrew Brennan is a publishing editor for Sportsbook Review. He also heads the website’s MLB coverage, from the various futures markets to daily picks. Andrew believes a math-based approach is the best way to enjoy long-term success in sports betting, and he’s spent the better part of the last year fine-tuning his own process for MLB, NBA, and NFL picks. Andrew uses eight different sportsbooks to find the best odds available and various projection models to gather as much information as he can. His most used sportsbooks are bet365, FanDuel, and theScore Bet. When it comes to daily projection models, he regularly references NumberFire across all sports, as it’s one of the best free tools available. In terms of which daily markets Andrew attacks, he almost exclusively bets on pitcher strikeouts for baseball. When the winter rolls around, you’ll see him providing more variety when it comes to the NBA (points, assists, rebounds) and NFL (almost any offensive-based player prop). He used these tools to go +150 units in 2023. Andrew is also a passionate fantasy sports player. He’s played fantasy football, fantasy Premier League, and fantasy baseball for the last decade. He graduated from Durham College with his diploma in journalism after earning his degree in law from Carleton University. He’s worked in sports media since early 2017, first contributing at FanSided before moving to theScore. He joined SBR in 2022.