MLB DFS Pitching Primer: Monday, 8/12 – The worst pitching slate…ever

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)
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) /
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MLB DFS: CHICAGO, IL – JULY 26: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) reacts after giving up a double in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins on July 26, 2019 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Primer: Other Options

Dylan Cease (6k FD, 9.1k DK) vs. Houston

Cease has an incredibly tough match-up tonight against the Astros. But he’s arguably the most talented pitcher of the remaining guys on this slate.

He hasn’t enjoyed too much success this year at the major league level since being called up, but he posted some really impressive numbers over the last four years. His 6 ERA this season is bad, but his xFIP is 4.20 and he should have some progression coming as his LOB%, BABIP, and HR/FB ratio all suggest he’s been pretty unlucky.

He’s striking out a hitter per inning and has a 28% K rate to righties. He should see six RHH today in the Astros lineup and should be a really low owned option. His DK price is crazy high, but maybe the DK algorithm knows something others don’t?

Jose Suarez (5.8k FD, 7.9k DK) vs. Pittsburgh

This is really a hold-your-nose type play as Suarez has been pretty bad in most of his starts this year for the Angels.

Notice the price difference here on Draftkings compared to FanDuel again, but also notice that the difference is a full thousand dollars less. Suarez has yet to complete the sixth inning in any of his 9 starts this season, yet he has managed to strike out a hitter per inning and post 25 ore more FD points 4 times.

The Pirates come in third to last on the slate in projected run total and have been a pretty lousy offense since the All-Star break. They don’t strike out all that much, but they also haven’t been that many runs on the board.

They scored 9 yesterday but hadn’t scored more than 3 runs in 5 of their last 6 before that. Again, I don’t love this play and if I use Suarez I’ll probably have some Pirates in other lineups to hedge.

Also Consider Austin Pruitt (4k on Draftkings) as an SP2 on DK only.