When most people think about NRFI betting, they think about the full-game first inning market: No Run First Inning, meaning neither team scores in the first inning.
But there is another way to attack the first inning market that can be very useful: the single team NRFI.
A single team NRFI is not asking for both teams to stay scoreless. It is only asking for one specific team not to score in the first inning.
In sportsbook terms, this is usually listed as one of the following:
Team Total Runs – 1st Inning: Under 0.5
or
Team to Score in the 1st Inning: No
Both mean the same thing: that team must score zero runs in the first inning.
What Is a Single Team NRFI?
A normal game NRFI needs both teams to stay off the board in the first inning.
A single team NRFI only focuses on one side.
For example:
Phillies 1st Inning Team Total Runs Under 0.5
This means the Phillies must not score in the top of the first inning. It does not matter what the Cubs do in the bottom of the first.
That is the key difference.
You are not betting the full inning. You are betting against one team scoring in its first-inning plate appearance.
Why Single Team NRFIs Can Be Useful
Single team NRFIs are helpful because not every game is clean enough for a full-game NRFI.
Sometimes one side has the stronger NRFI profile while the other side carries more risk. In those cases, a team-only NRFI can let you isolate the better side of the matchup.
For example, you may like the starting pitcher facing the Phillies, but you may not fully trust the other pitcher in the game. Instead of forcing a full-game NRFI, you can look for the Phillies team total under 0.5 runs in the first inning.
That allows you to play the cleaner side of the matchup.
Where to Find Single Team NRFIs
Different sportsbooks label these markets differently. The wording changes from book to book, but the idea is the same.
You are looking for either:
1st Inning Team Total Runs Under 0.5
or
Team to Score in the 1st Inning – No
Below are examples from several sportsbooks.
Bovada
On Bovada, the single team NRFI market can be found inside the game’s 1st Inning tab.
After selecting the MLB game, look across the market tabs and choose:
1st Inning
From there, Bovada may list both the full-game first-inning market and the team-specific markets.
The full-game NRFI/YRFI market may appear as:
Will there be a run scored in the 1st Inning – 1st Inning
To bet the full-game NRFI, select:
No
For single team NRFIs, look for markets listed like:
Baltimore Orioles To Score – 1st Inning
or
Seattle Mariners To Score – 1st Inning
Each team will usually have a Yes and No option.
To bet a single team NRFI, select:
No
For example:
Baltimore Orioles To Score – 1st Inning: No
This means the Orioles must not score in their first-inning plate appearance. It does not matter whether Seattle scores in the first inning.
Image placeholder: Insert Bovada screenshot here.
Suggested caption: Bovada lists single team NRFIs as “Team To Score – 1st Inning.” Selecting “No” is the single team NRFI.
On theScore Bet or ESPN Bet, the single team NRFI market may be listed under the game’s first-inning markets.
Look for a section called something like:
1st Inning Team Total Runs
From there, each team will usually have an over/under 0.5 option.
To play a single team NRFI, choose:
Under 0.5
For example:
Phillies 1st Inning Team Total Runs Under 0.5
That means the Phillies do not score in the first inning.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics may show the market in a slightly different format.
Instead of calling it a team total, it may be listed as:
Team to Score in the 1st Inning
Under that section, each team will have a Yes or No option.
To bet a single team NRFI, choose:
No
For example:
Phillies to Score in the 1st Inning – No
This is the same as betting the Phillies first-inning team total under 0.5 runs.
Xbet
On Xbet, the market may be found under game props, inning props, or team totals.
Look for first-inning team total markets such as:
Philadelphia Total Runs – 1st Inning
or
Chicago Total Runs – 1st Inning
Then select:
Under 0.5
That is the single team NRFI side.
The exact menu layout may vary, but the key is finding the first-inning team total for the specific team.
DraftKings
On DraftKings, single team NRFIs are often found under first-inning props or alternate first-inning team total markets.
Look for wording like:
1st Inning Team Total Runs
or
Alternate 1st Inning Team Totals
Then find the team you want and select:
Under 0.5
For example:
CHC 1st Inning Team Total Runs Under 0.5
That means the Cubs must not score in the first inning.
Quick Translation Guide
Here is the easiest way to understand the different sportsbook wording:
| Sportsbook Wording | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Team Total Runs 1st Inning Under 0.5 | Team does not score in the first inning |
| Team to Score in the 1st Inning – No | Team does not score in the first inning |
| 1st Inning Team Total Under 0.5 | Team does not score in the first inning |
| Alternate 1st Inning Team Total Under 0.5 | Team does not score in the first inning |
All of these are different ways of saying the same thing.
Single Team NRFI vs Game NRFI
A full-game NRFI requires both teams to go scoreless in the first inning.
A single team NRFI only requires one team to go scoreless.
Example:
Game NRFI: Phillies and Cubs both must not score in the first inning.
Phillies Team NRFI: Only the Phillies must not score in the first inning.
Cubs Team NRFI: Only the Cubs must not score in the first inning.
This is why single team NRFIs can be useful when one side of the matchup grades much stronger than the other.
Final Thoughts
Single team NRFIs are one of the most useful first-inning markets because they allow you to isolate one side of the matchup.
Instead of needing both starting pitchers and both lineups to cooperate, you only need one team to be held scoreless in its first-inning plate appearance.
When searching for these markets, remember the key terms:
Team Total Runs – 1st Inning Under 0.5
or
Team to Score in the 1st Inning – No
The wording may change depending on the sportsbook, but the bet is the same.
A single team NRFI is simply a bet that one specific team does not score in the first inning.