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DraftKings MLB picks August 12: Get crazy with Lucchesi

By Mike Marteny

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 17: Joey Lucchesi #37 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on August 17, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 17: Joey Lucchesi #37 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on August 17, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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DraftKings MLB
MLB DFS: HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 06: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid Park on August 06, 2019 in Houston, Texas. Greinke is starting his first game with the Astros since being traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Pitcher Plays:

Top Tier:

Zack Greinke ($10,700): I really hope this game plays because if it doesn’t, an already weak pitching slate gets much worse. Greinke wasn’t great in his Houston debut, but he wont need to be against the White Sox. They swing a lot, don’t connect much, and generally aren’t very patient. Greinke will carve them up if given the chance.

Joey Lucchesi ($10,000): This is a high price for Lucchesi, but his 2.71 ERA in 12 home starts makes this look a whole lot more manageable. If Greinke is rained out, Lucchesi is going to be very highly owned, but I’m not sure we can justify moving down. Not unless you are using two cheap pitchers and stacking bats. If you are taking pitching at all seriously tonight, Lucchesi should probably be in your lineup.

Middle Tier:

Zach Plesac ($9,400): This is a tougher price for a pitcher that doesn’t strike out a lot of batters. Boston doesn’t strike out a whole lot. In fact, Plesac had just two strikeouts in 5.1 innings in his first start against Boston. Good thing he only allowed one run! Plesac’s 2.98 home ERA looks good and so does his strong first start against Boston. However, the only reason Plesac is on here is because of the mediocrity of the rest of the slate. Plesac should have a solid game, but I doubt he breaks 20 DraftKings points. That makes him a little hard to use.

Jose Suarez ($7,900): I’m not wild about Suarez, but he’s about the only guy in the middle tier that I’ll touch and it has everything to do with the matchup. Pittsburgh has struggled against lefties all season. Some of that has to do with their home park tempering right handed power. Some not. At any rate, the places to attack with pitching are few and far between tonight. Truth be told, I’d rather drop farther down, but Suarez has some solid upside.

Bargain Pitchers:

Erick Fedde ($6,200): Fedde’s home splits are disturbing, but if you take out the nine run implosion against the Braves on July 30th, they aren’t nearly as egregious as they look. This Cincinnati offense is far less dangerous on the road with 68 homers in 55 games compared to 96 in 61 home contests. We don’t need a lot from Fedde here, which makes him pretty tempting.

Austin Pruitt ($4,000): Pruitt’s numbers are nothing to write home about, but his ERA is almost two runs lower on the road. The last time the Rays called upon Pruitt for five innings back on July 3rd, Pruitt struck out seven. That kind of strikeout potential against the Padres is totally worth this price. Pruitt may not go five, but he should still be the pitcher of record, giving him a solid shot at a win.

My picks: Lucchesi, Pruitt; Fedde, Pruitt; Grienke, Lucchesi