MLB NRFI Picks & Best Bets for Friday (April 24)

The No Runs First Inning betting market is one of the best-performing so far for our MLB wagers. I'm 8-for-12 in NRFI bets so far in the 2026 season. That has me up $365 for the season.

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Tonight, there are 14 MLB games to choose from. After researching the pitching matchups and offensive trends for these 28 MLB teams, I have three NRFI picks, including one involving the greatest pitcher on the planet. Here are my best MLB bets for Friday, April 24.

If you're looking for more MLB and sports betting promotions, we have gathered a list of the best sports betting offers here.

MLB Schedule, Odds & Pitching Matchups for April 24

Odds in this betting guide for baseball online sportsbooks are taken from Bet365. Consult your favorite sports betting apps for the odds that make sense for you and your budget.

MLB NRFI Best Bets for April 24

NL Central Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers

There is a tendency to overreact early in the MLB season. That's because fans are impatient. It's a long season, stretching from spring to fall, with 162 games in 180 days. Yet, some fans are already panicking.

Not in the National League Central, where all five teams are playing well enough to be above .500 and have many positive things to feel good about. That's where the Pirates and Brewers are for this first meeting of the season. Wouldn't you know it: the Brewers will face the task of Paul Skenes in this weekend's series opener.

I'm landing heavily on NRFI YES for this game. Here's why:

Why Paul Skenes is a Strong NRFI Play

In 2026, Paul Skenes has been the Shovel Man, because since the first inning of the season, the big right-hander has been digging himself out of a hole. On Opening Day in New York, Skenes was lambasted for five earned runs without getting out of the first inning. He pitched more like Paul Rudd than Paul Skenes.

But since that start, the 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner has allowed only three earned runs in 21 1/3 innings. His K/BB rate is 22-to-4.

However, in four of the starts made by Skenes, there has been at least one run scored in the first, either by the opposition or the Pirates. Those trends should shift toward the league average.

NRFI Stats for Paul Skenes

• 2026: 1 of 5 starts were NRFI
• 2025: 18 of 25 starts were NRFI
• 2024: 14 of 23 starts were NRFI
• Career: 33 of 50 starts have been NRFI

That's a 66 percent NRFI rate for Skenes' starts. Which is almost exactly the MLB average. Over time, the rate will work toward that figure. So far, Skenes' starts have seen more scoring in the first than would be expected for any pitcher and opponent, let alone the greatest pitcher in professional baseball.

• BEST BET: Pirates vs Brewers NRFI: YES  (-150)

This is a wager that UNDER 0.5 Runs will be scored in the First Inning. You'll need to bet $150 to win $100. Or go half a unit, for a $75 bet to win $50.

Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers No Runs First Inning Bet

Following a torrid stretch of left turns and run-scoring on the bases, the Dodgers scored only four runs against the Giants in Northern California for a three-gamer this week. That means the offense is bound to re-emerge for this home game against the Cubs.

The Cubs are third in MLB in runs scored. They rank second (to the Dodgers) in on-base percentage and fourth in baseball in OPS.

Why are the Cubs scoring so much? The lineup has six batters with an OPS of .800 or more, including Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Michael Busch.

With that many hitters humming, you'll avoid slumps. The Cubs are also one of the most efficient base-running teams in baseball, gauged by Statcast.

• BEST BET: Cubs vs Dodgers NRFI: NO  (-125)

This is a wager that OVER 0.5 Runs will be scored in the first inning. You'll need to bet $125 to win $100.

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Game Prop for Yankees vs Astros

One of the stats I track is how high strikeout teams fare at NRFI. Is there a correlation between lineups that swing and miss a lot and fewer or more runs in the first inning?

In 2026, the 10 highest strikeout lineups, measured by K/PA, scored in the first inning 11% less often than teams with good strikeout rates.

The Astros have one of the better K rates in baseball, while the Yanks are 8th in K Rate per PA, and rank 4th in swing-and-miss rate on pitches out of the zone. I like no runs in this game because of the tendency for both teams to see a lot of pitches early, which favors high command starters Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU) and Will Warren (NYY).

• BEST BET: Yankees vs Astros NRFI: YES  (-110)

You're betting No Runs First Inning (NRFI) at -110, risking $110 to win $100.