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MLB DraftKings: 3 Must-use starting pitchers for July 26

By Bill Pivetz

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 11: Sonny Gray #55 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 11: Sonny Gray #55 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The main slate on MLB DraftKings features nine games. The starting pitching for those games is lackluster overall, but there are three pitchers you need to use.

Starting pitchers are the most expensive players in MLB DraftKings. Based on how many points they can earn, it makes sense. The downside is that you need two of them in your lineup. So owners try to spend on an elite name and use the second spot on a flier. With the nine games on the main slate for July 26, there are three pitchers that use no matter their price.

The main slate starts with the 7 PM games, excluding the 2:20 PM ARI/CHC and 4:05 PM CWS/LAA games. That eliminates Zack Godley, Tyler Chatwood, Dylan Covey and Nick Tropeano from the player pool. Stephen Strasburg was just placed on the DL, too. Those are some good pitchers that could be used but some of the starting pitchers available have good matchups.

Honorable Mention: Trevor Cahill, Jakob Junis, Alex Cobb

Sonny Gray, NYY

Gray entered the All-Star break coming off a 31.1-point start. He finished with six shutout innings, three hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. His first start in the second half was a little rough but he earned his seventh win.

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Gray induces a lot of ground balls and sometimes too many fly balls. Lucky for him, the Kansas City Royals do not hit many home runs. They have 17 for the month, 23rd in the league. Whit Merrifield is the only batter hitting over .280 for the team. This is a good get-right game for Gray as the New York Yankees continue towards an AL East title.

Gray is priced at $8,200 on DraftKings.

Wade Miley, MIL

Miley missed two months with an oblique injury. In his first start back, he scored 11.9 points. That went up to 13.3 points in his most recent start. With a high pitch count, Miley didn’t last long in either game.

Miley and the Brewers face the San Francisco Giants. They are hitting .232 with 70 runs scored in July, 25th and 28th in the league, respectively. The Giants will be without Brandon Belt for a couple of games, taking one of their best hitters out of the lineup. Buster Posey doesn’t have the power, Andrew McCutchen isn’t making consistent contact.

Miley comes in at $6,600 and is worth the price as a No. 2 starter.

Nick Kingham, PIT

Kingham is looking to start a new streak for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After winning 11 games in a row, the Bucs lost 4-0 to the Indians. Kingham and the Pirates face the lowly New York Mets. They are hitting .209 this month, 15 points lower than the 29th team.

The Mets are without Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Travis d’Arnaud and Todd Frazier. Without those power hitters in the lineup, the Mets aren’t expected to score many runs.

Kingham has a hot offense behind him. With his groundball and strikeout ability, he should be able to pick up his fourth-straight win. At $9,400, he’s a little pricey but the skill and matchup line up perfectly.

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These three starting pitchers have the ability to put together a winning start. With the offenses they have behind them and the offenses they’ll be facing, these three pitchers belong in your DraftKings lineup for July 26.