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MLB DFS Pitching Primer: Monday, 8/5 – Giolito or Morton?

By Dan Palyo

MLB DFS Pitching: MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 20: Lucas Giolito #27 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on August 20, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a make up game from the weather postponed game on April 15, 2018. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MLB DFS Pitching: MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 20: Lucas Giolito #27 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on August 20, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a make up game from the weather postponed game on April 15, 2018. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MLB DFS Pitching
MLB DFS Pitching: CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 22: Starting pitcher Aaron Civale #66 of the Cleveland Indians makes his Major League debut during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Primer: Cheap Arm/SP2

Aaron Civale (6.6k FD, 6.9k DK) vs. Texas

Civale is making only the second big league start of his career tonight at home against the Rangers. His first start back in June was excellent as he shut down the Tigers over six innings while racking up six strikeouts.

Tonight he will have a tougher challenge as the Rangers lineup is considerably better than Detroit and will have a number of good left-handed hitters in it.

Civale’s minor league numbers this season at AAA have been excellent. He’s struck out 26% of the hitters he’s faced while holding opposing hitters to a .230 average.

He doesn’t have an overpowering fastball, as he sits in the 90-92 range most of the time. But he does throw a number of different pitches including a sinker, slider, change-up, and a curve ball.

Civale is a third-round pick who has been fast-tracked through the minors in only three seasons. We’ve seen another Indians youngster have tremendous success using great off-speed pitches as Shane Bieber has become a dominant pitcher.

Civale doesn’t quite have the same strikeout upside as Bieber right now, but he definitely is a guy who has shown the ability to pitch well and understands how to pitch.

If I’ve learned anything the last few years analyzing pitchers it’s that the guys who come up as just hard throwers tend to struggle more out of the gate than the rookies who have a more diverse arsenal of pitches.

I like Civale a lot here against Texas and their 24% K rate, I just hope he doesn’t end up becoming too popular of a play based on his great first outing.

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