RotoBallers’ Unlikely Aces for Week 20 weighs three rising arms—Ryne Nelson, Jacob Lopez and Joey Cantillo—to decide who’s a real add and who’s a stay-away. Nelson has flipped to a trusted Arizona starter role, Lopez continues to chew through hitters with elite strikeouts, and Cantillo shows a viable changeup-driven path but remains a higher-risk add. Expect cautious upgrades in deeper formats and selective streaming in standard leagues as fantasy managers parse upside against underlying metrics.

Nelson’s breakout is built on a heavy four-seam reliance, delivering a sub-3.20 ERA over a long run while piling up strikeouts, but advanced stats warn of regression (xERA around 4.07 and suboptimal whiff/hard-hit marks). Lopez loves the strikeout punch (10.9 K/9 with a 3.30 ERA through 15 starts), supported by a lethal fastball/slider combo and strong peripherals. Cantillo has shown late-season spark with his changeup as a primary weapon, posting a strikeout-friendly profile, yet his overall line remains fragile due to walks and efficiencies. In Week 20, Nelson is a borderline add in 12-team leagues, Lopez is a strong 12+ team target, and Cantillo belongs in only the deepest of formats unless his consistency solidifies.

Logan Webb lands at the top of Monday’s DFS board after a groundball-heavy, high-strikeout profile that plays in San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly set-up against San Diego. Freddy Peralta brings near-elite strikeout upside with a solid 3.03 ERA as Milwaukee hosts Pittsburgh. Ryne Nelson offers salary relief with a steadily strong run of outings, while Nathan Eovaldi looks like a stable anchor for Texas against a lighter-lung lineup. Stacks lean Cardinals in a favorable Rockies matchup (Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman) and a Boston trio (Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony) against Houston’s lefty-friendly arms. Ha-Seong Kim provides a value spark for San Diego, and the Red Sox outfield trio adds flyer potential against lefty-friendly spots.

Diamondbacks travel to Arlington for the series opener with the Rangers, sending Ryne Nelson against Nathan Eovaldi. Arizona just piled up 25 runs in a weekend sweep of Colorado, capped by a 13-6 win featuring a franchise-record nine consecutive hits in one fifth inning. Texas, by contrast, was swept by Philadelphia and managed only five runs all weekend, leaving their offense under scrutiny as they chase momentum in a tough ballpark matchup.

Market momentum tilts toward Eovaldi with a 1.38 ERA, while Nelson brings a 3.20 mark into the start. NBC’s projections lean Texas on the moneyline and the 7.0 over/under, reflecting both pitching gems and the potential for a low-scoring duel or a late burst. For fantasy owners, Nelson’s stock remains solid as a reliable pitcher in favorable matchups, while Eovaldi stands out as a high-floor DFS option given his strikeout ceiling and Rangers’ upside when they click offensively.

Marcus Semien’s four-game hitting streak ended recently, a reminder of Texas’s up-and-down offense, and Zack Wheeler’s early trouble against Texas adds a layer of intrigue to pitchers facing the Phillies in Arlington. The opener sets a pace for a series that could swing on a few big hits or a bullpen bust, with the Diamondbacks aiming to keep their hot bats rolling and the Rangers hoping to rebound against strong opponent pitching.

MLB NRFI bets heat up for August 11, 2025 with three strong first-inning focus games: Minnesota at New York, Arizona at Texas, and Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles. The top plays hinge on pitchers who excel through the first frame: Zebby Matthews vs Will Warren, Ryne Nelson vs Nathan Eovaldi, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs Jose Soriano. The bets lean No Run First Inning (NRFI) due to strong early-control vibes, favorable matchups, and recent first-inning success for the starters. Remember to check weather and lineups before wagering, as odds move with public action.

Matthews sits on a standout 7-1 NRFI mark in the first inning, and Warren owns a 19-5 NRFI record, underscoring tepid first frames in this AL clash. Nelson rides an 11-3 NRFI line with a breakout season, while Eovaldi’s recent form has him rolling through starts with minimal first-inning runs. Yamamoto’s 17-5 NRFI slate and Soriano’s 19-5 NRFI record set the stage for a trio of highly actionable NRFI bets, all anchored by elite first-inning pitcher performance and park-by-park dynamics.

Strategy: monitor starting lineups and weather, bet smaller percentages of bankroll given the volatility of NRFI markets, and be prepared for line shifts as public betting climbs. These bets prioritize pitchers who own clean first innings and cut down on early risk, making this slate a sharp, sweat-worthy night for NRFI enthusiasts.

Zack Wheeler dominated in Arlington, fanning seven across a three-hit, seven-inning stage, as Philadelphia held off Texas 4-2 to sweep the series. Edmundo Sosa connected for a solo homer, Bryce Harper lined an RBI double, and Weston Wilson delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth, backed by a stingy Phillies bullpen and a closing clinic from Jhoan Duran, who earned his 20th save since the blockbuster swap. The Rangers jumped out front on Joc Pederson’s first-inning two-run shot, but Philadelphia answered with a sustained late surge to reclaim the lead and seal it.

Philadelphia’s depth and late-inning urgency carried the day: Sosa’s homer tied the game in the fifth, Wilson’s single put the Phillies ahead, and Harper’s early RBI double kickstarted the comeback. Harrison Bader killed Texas’ momentum with a leaping, wall-snug robbed homer in the fifth, underscoring Philly’s sharp defense in addition to the pitching. Wheeler extended a season-long trend of six or more strikeouts for the 19th time, and the Phillies improved to 49-2 when leading after six innings and 57-2 after seven, the best marks in MLB. The club now heads to Cincinnati for a road trip opener with Taijuan Walker on the mound against Andrew Abbott, while Texas wraps up its homestand with Nathan Eovaldi opposing Ryne Nelson as the Diamondbacks visit.