Kansas City Royals NRFI Stats 2026: First-Inning Record by Home, Away, Month and Starter
The Royals played 162 regular-season games in 2026 and 77 of them (48%) had no run in the first inning, the result an NRFI bet needs. They scored in the first in 33% of their games and allowed a first-inning run in 32%. Everything below is counted from the official line scores through September 27, 2026.
Royals NRFI record, 2026
| Split | Games | NRFI | YRFI | NRFI rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All games | 162 | 77 | 85 | 48% |
| Home | 81 | 35 | 46 | 43% |
| Away | 81 | 42 | 39 | 52% |
First-inning scoring, both halves
An NRFI needs both halves of the inning to stay scoreless, so the Royals’ offense and their starter both matter.
| Games | Rate | Runs | Runs per game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royals scored in the 1st | 54 | 33% | 97 | 0.60 |
| Royals allowed a run in the 1st | 52 | 32% | 105 | 0.65 |
By month
| Month | Games | NRFI | Rate | Scored in 1st | Allowed in 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 4 | 3 | 75% | 0% | 25% |
| April | 27 | 18 | 67% | 15% | 26% |
| May | 28 | 11 | 39% | 32% | 39% |
| June | 27 | 11 | 41% | 48% | 37% |
| July | 25 | 13 | 52% | 28% | 24% |
| August | 27 | 13 | 48% | 33% | 30% |
| September | 24 | 8 | 33% | 50% | 38% |
By starting pitcher
Games where the pitcher was the Royals’ listed starter, and how many of those had no run allowed in the first inning.
| Starter | Starts | Scoreless 1st | Rate | 1st-inning runs allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Wacha | 32 | 25 | 78% | 11 |
| Seth Lugo | 32 | 16 | 50% | 27 |
| Noah Cameron | 30 | 24 | 80% | 9 |
| Randy Dobnak | 13 | 11 | 85% | 4 |
| Luinder Avila | 12 | 7 | 58% | 15 |
| Stephen Kolek | 10 | 8 | 80% | 9 |
| Daniel Lynch IV | 10 | 6 | 60% | 8 |
| Kris Bubic | 9 | 7 | 78% | 5 |
| Cole Ragans | 8 | 4 | 50% | 9 |
Previous seasons
| Season | Games | NRFI | Rate | Scored in 1st | Allowed in 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 162 | 78 | 48% | 30% | 31% |
| 2024 | 162 | 93 | 57% | 27% | 23% |
| 2025 | 162 | 88 | 54% | 32% | 21% |
What is the Royals’ NRFI record in 2026?
77 NRFI and 85 YRFI in 162 regular-season games, a 48% NRFI rate. At home it was 43% and on the road 52%.
How often do the Royals score in the first inning?
In 33% of their 162 games in 2026, averaging 0.60 first-inning runs per game.
Which Royals starter has the best first-inning record?
Randy Dobnak, with no first-inning run allowed in 11 of 13 starts (85%) in 2026.
Should I bet NRFI on Royals games?
Only when the price is better than the real chance of a scoreless first, which depends on that day’s starters, lineups, park and weather far more than on the season record. Our model simulates every game 20,000 times and posts a play when a book’s price clears the projection; see MLB NRFI and YRFI picks.
Source: MLB Stats API line scores and probable starters, 2026 regular season. Updated October 13, 2026. See NRFI stats for every team or all stats.