Top NRFI Prop Bets for Saturday's MLB Slate

Zach Thompson shares his three favorite no-run first inning wagers for the 15-game MLB schedule.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:42pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the dynamic action of a baseball game, with shapes and planes representing the players and field.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes battle between pitchers and hitters in the opening innings of an MLB game.Today in Miami

With all 30 MLB teams in action on Saturday, there are plenty of opportunities to cash in on no-run first inning (NRFI) prop bets. Zach Thompson highlights his top three NRFI plays for the day, including matchups between the Athletics-Blue Jays, Tigers-Padres, and Dodgers-Diamondbacks.

Why it matters

NRFI props are a popular and exciting way for bettors to get in on the action, but finding the right pitching matchups and value is crucial. Thompson's analysis dives into the key stats and trends that make these three NRFI bets stand out on the massive Saturday slate.

The details

Thompson's top NRFI picks include the Athletics-Blue Jays evening game, where he likes the chances of starters Dylan Cease and Jeffrey Springs to keep the first inning clean. He also highlights the Tigers-Padres matchup, with Jack Flaherty and Randy Vasquez both sporting strong NRFI rates. Finally, Thompson is targeting the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game, where Tyler Glasnow and Eduardo Rodriguez have both excelled at avoiding first-inning runs.

  • The Athletics and Blue Jays opened their series on Friday night.
  • The Tigers and Padres are playing the third game of their series on Saturday at 8:40 p.m. ET.
  • The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are also playing the third game of their series on Saturday.

The players

Dylan Cease

The Blue Jays' new starting pitcher, who had a 71.9% NRFI rate without allowing a first-inning run in 23 of his 32 starts last season with the Padres.

Jeffrey Springs

The Athletics' starting pitcher, who also had a strong NRFI rate in his recent starts, though his overall numbers were skewed by pitching at the hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park.

Jack Flaherty

The Tigers' starting pitcher, who had an NRFI hit rate of 75% in his last 10 starts of 2025.

Randy Vasquez

The Padres' starting pitcher, who also had a 75% NRFI rate in his last 10 starts of 2025.

Tyler Glasnow

The Dodgers' starting pitcher, who has a career 78% NRFI rate and hit NRFI in 15 of his 18 starts last season.

Eduardo Rodriguez

The Diamondbacks' starting pitcher, who threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the WBC Championship game and made adjustments to his pitches in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“NRFI prop bets are very simple but also seriously difficult. Six outs without any scoring is all that is needed to cash in, and this style of prop is quick-hitting, easy to track and supremely straightforward. Still, most days it's easier said than done.”

— Zach Thompson, Sports Betting Analyst

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Finding the right pitching matchups and identifying value are crucial when betting NRFI props on a busy MLB Saturday slate. Thompson's analysis highlights three games where the starting pitchers have the potential to keep the first inning clean, providing bettors with exciting quick-hitting opportunities.