Fansided

MLB DFS Pithing Gems July 22: Can Sonny Shine Once Again?

By Brandon Lauderback

DFS: CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 03: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after getting the final out in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on July 3, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 3-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DFS: CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 03: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after getting the final out in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on July 3, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 3-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
MLB DFS Pitching
Mandatory Credit: John McCoy/Getty Images /

MLB DFS Pitching Plays

Gerrit Cole – Since departing from that toxic franchise in Pittsburgh, Cole has been on a complete tear in Houston. In his last four games, Cole has put up 43 strikeouts, giving up five runs, getting three wins, and three QS. He has a 2.35 xFIP, 37.5% K rate, 41.8% GB rate, and 34.9% HC.

He will see mostly RHH, where yes his K rate goes down to a measly 34%, but he gives up far less power, and home runs. Cole has a 29% FB rate, .146 ISO, and only 31% HC to RHH. Also, let’s not forget, he will be pitching at home where he has had only one bad game all season, a random 18 point game against the CWS.

Pitch Mix – We will focus on his pitches against RHH. Cole is very fastball heavy, using it 50% of the time, then the slider 35%, very rarely mixing in the curve, and change. The whiffs on all of those pitches sit around 30-40%, with the breaking pitches getting massive GB, yielding low ISO numbers as well.

He pumps that fastball at over 97 MPH on average and has a 90 MPH slider, which is very rare in this league. With ten inches of vertical movement, Cole has possibly the best fastball in the league. Oakland has some solid whiff numbers on that slider, and while they do not have an extremely high K rate, Cole is going to get his strikeouts today regardless.