Best NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Picks For Monday, July 28

Spencer Strider and Matthew Boyd highlight our best NRFI bets today. Can we build on our 56-38 record?

Last Updated: July 28, 2025 12:52 PM EDT • 4 minute read

Best NRFI Bets Today: Picks & Predictions for Monday, July 28 — Pictured: Spencer Strider - who's highlighted in our best NRFI Bets today - pitches in the first inning. Photo by Dale Zanine via Imagn Images.

Welcome to our best NRFI bets today for Monday, July 28.

We dropped our last two wagers on Friday, but we're ready to get back on that horse this afternoon with a couple of plays I absolutely love.

We're now sitting at 56-38 on the campaign with 8.19 extra units in our pocket. Our collective bankroll is getting fat as we continue our trek to the moon. It's time to get into my first-inning picks and predictions using odds from our best sports betting sites.

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

💰 Best NRFI picks today: Monday, July 28

Atlanta Braves vs. Kansas City Royals (+100 at DraftKings)
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (-145 at DraftKings)

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⚾️ Braves vs. Royals - 7:40 p.m. ET

Spencer Strider (3.72 ERA) vs. Rich Hill (1.80 ERA)
NRFI record: Braves (46-58) vs. Royals (66-40)

We've got Strider on the mound and the best NRFI team in baseball, and we're getting even-money value on this play? You better believe we're going to take advantage as part of our best NRFI bets today.

Strider has slowly but surely returned to his normal self, allowing just three earned runs across his last 11 innings pitched. He'll get a Royals team that simply can't score in the first frame this year. It'll all start with the leadoff hitter, Jonathan India, who's just 1-for-5 against Strider in his career. Let's have a clean bottom of the first.

We get Mr. Hill, who's coming off a strong first start of his season, pitching five innings of one-run baseball against the Chicago Cubs, in the top of the opening frame today. We've got a pretty large sample size here, too. Across 59 plate appearances, Atlanta owns just a .214 xBA against Hill. He's shut down Ronald Acuna (1-for-9), Matt Olson (1-for-10), and Marcell Ozuna (1-for-7). That'll play.

It's not often we get an even-money wager at five-star confidence, but here we are - let's fire it up.

Confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best NRFI bets today: +100 at DraftKings

⚾️ Cubs vs. Brewers - 7:40 p.m. ET

Matthew Boyd (2.20 ERA) vs. Jacob Misiorowski (2.46 ERA)
NRFI record: Cubs (63-43) vs. Brewers (62-43)

Two of the best starters in MLB just screams NRFI to me, and so we are going to ride them both as part of our best NRFI bets today.

Boyd is striking this Brewers team out at a 41% clip across 22 plate appearances, which should make you feel warm and fuzzy inside as we look for six simple outs. Among the Brewers hitters who struggle versus Boyd is Christian Yelich, who's 1-for-5 with two strikeouts against the left-hander. Boyd is featured in our best strikeout props today, too, as a result.

The rookie will bring us home here. Misiorowski has allowed just one earned run across his last 9 2/3 innings pitched and has allowed a run in the first frame just once in six starts this season. Look for the electric righty to have a clean first as a result.

I'd price this closer to -130 betting odds than the -145 we're getting at DraftKings. Feel free to avoid FanDuel today, which has this NRFI priced at -150.

Best NRFI bets today: -145 at DraftKings

💡 Expert MLB predictions today

❓ 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 one of our best sportsbooks, head over to the market and your game of choice. Then click on “first inning.” You should see an option to bet on a NRFI or a YRFI.

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.

💵 Best MLB betting sites

Want to bet on baseball? Check out the best MLB betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today's games:

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DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
Hard Rock Bet Promo Code | Read our Hard Rock Bet Review

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Written by:
Dustin Saracini

Dustin Saracini is a Senior Publishing Editor & Analyst for Sportsbook Review. Dustin has been in the industry for 11-plus years, making various stops across Canada while gaining tremendous experience within the sports and betting landscape. Dustin has hosted multiple shows during his time in the sports betting industry, discussing NBA, NFL, PGA, and MLB betting markets with top handicappers from around the country, and has appeared on CNN as a betting consultant. Dustin wagers every single day and line shops at all of the top sportsbooks (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars). He firmly believes that discipline is the only way you can become a profitable bettor. Dustin graduated from Western University with a broadcast journalism degree/diploma in 2014. If you want to see more of his plays, make sure to follow his Twitter @DustinSaracini. Follow for picks, strategies, and more.