St. Louis Cardinals NRFI Stats 2026: First-Inning Record by Home, Away, Month and Starter
The Cardinals played 162 regular-season games in 2026 and 83 of them (51%) had no run in the first inning, the result an NRFI bet needs. They scored in the first in 30% of their games and allowed a first-inning run in 31%. Everything below is counted from the official line scores through September 27, 2026.
Cardinals NRFI record, 2026
| Split | Games | NRFI | YRFI | NRFI rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All games | 162 | 83 | 79 | 51% |
| Home | 81 | 46 | 35 | 57% |
| Away | 81 | 37 | 44 | 46% |
First-inning scoring, both halves
An NRFI needs both halves of the inning to stay scoreless, so the Cardinals’ offense and their starter both matter.
| Games | Rate | Runs | Runs per game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals scored in the 1st | 48 | 30% | 85 | 0.52 |
| Cardinals allowed a run in the 1st | 51 | 31% | 94 | 0.58 |
By month
| Month | Games | NRFI | Rate | Scored in 1st | Allowed in 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 5 | 3 | 60% | 40% | 20% |
| April | 26 | 13 | 50% | 31% | 42% |
| May | 26 | 15 | 58% | 19% | 27% |
| June | 25 | 14 | 56% | 36% | 28% |
| July | 28 | 14 | 50% | 36% | 21% |
| August | 28 | 15 | 54% | 32% | 21% |
| September | 24 | 9 | 38% | 21% | 54% |
By starting pitcher
Games where the pitcher was the Cardinals’ 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 McGreevy | 31 | 22 | 71% | 15 |
| Matthew Liberatore | 31 | 20 | 65% | 19 |
| Kyle Leahy | 29 | 21 | 72% | 13 |
| Andre Pallante | 28 | 17 | 61% | 22 |
| Dustin May | 21 | 14 | 67% | 14 |
| Quinn Mathews | 9 | 7 | 78% | 4 |
| Hunter Dobbins | 8 | 7 | 88% | 3 |
Previous seasons
| Season | Games | NRFI | Rate | Scored in 1st | Allowed in 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 162 | 70 | 43% | 30% | 35% |
| 2024 | 162 | 99 | 61% | 22% | 24% |
| 2025 | 162 | 80 | 49% | 24% | 32% |
What is the Cardinals’ NRFI record in 2026?
83 NRFI and 79 YRFI in 162 regular-season games, a 51% NRFI rate. At home it was 57% and on the road 46%.
How often do the Cardinals score in the first inning?
In 30% of their 162 games in 2026, averaging 0.52 first-inning runs per game.
Which Cardinals starter has the best first-inning record?
Kyle Leahy, with no first-inning run allowed in 21 of 29 starts (72%) in 2026.
Should I bet NRFI on Cardinals 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.