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MLB DFS pitching gems August 1: Time to wheel and deal

By Brandon Lauderback

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on July 26, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Pirates 6-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on July 26, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Pirates 6-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 27: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 27: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Plays

Zack Wheeler – This will be your chalk arm for the early slate. Wheeler has had a very up, and down year. Overall he has a 3.91 xFIP, 26% K rate, 44.7% GB, and 33.6% HC. As shown here Zack has been a tad bit unlikely, owning a 4.71 ERA, but a 3.91 xFIP. The main thing you worry about when playing pitchers from the Mets is will they get the win bonus? Frequently they do not get enough run support so they end up not getting the win.

Regardless, Wheeler is the next man to feast on baseballs punching bag. Chicago recently lost Yoan Moncada, taking away possibly the best hitter in that lineup. They have between a 24-26% K rate depending on the lineup they roll out, with 49% GB, and a .149 ISO. Wheeler will also see an even number of righties, and lefties, which is important because the better hitters from Chicago are right-handed, where Zack manages contact very well, 51% GB, .126 ISO, and only 29% HC.

Pitch Mix – Wheeler has a nasty fastball that he uses around 58% of the time. After that he has a slider used 18%, then mixes in the curve, and change. The whiffs are down on the slider recently, the same goes for the curve compared to last year. The slider, curve, and fastball get over 40% GB, with that number increasing against RHH.

Zack’s fastball on average sits at 97 MPH but maxes out at 100 MPH. The problem is controlling a fastball that is moving that fast, but the White Sox do have a pretty high O-Swing rate. The slider also reaches 92 MPH on average. He does lack in movement a little bit, but he velocity more than makes up for it. Overall he is the best arm on either slate and should be locked into your cash game build.