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MLB DFS pitching primer: Monday, 8/19 – Do pitchers matter?

By Dan Palyo

DFS MLB: MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: Kyle Gibson #44 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the first inning of the game on May 14, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
DFS MLB: MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: Kyle Gibson #44 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the first inning of the game on May 14, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 07: Starting pitcher Zac Gallen #59 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 07, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 07: Starting pitcher Zac Gallen #59 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 07, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Primer: Mid-Tier Options

Zac Gallen (8k FD, 9.3k DK) vs. Colorado

Gallen is facing Colorado for the second time in a row, but this time at home instead of in hitter-friendly Coors Field. Arizona is still a decent park for hitters but it is not what it used to be before they installed the humidor.

Anyway, Gallen is coming off the shortest start of his D-Backs career last time out. He surrendered 9 hits, but only two earned runs over four innings. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts this season.

The Rockies are a significantly worse offensive team on the road, so I’m willing to give Gallen a shot today as he is still fairly priced despite being one of the most impressive rookie pitchers we’ve seen this season.  His 27% K rate is tied for second-highest on this slate and he’s been really tough on lefties this year (.276 wOBA allowed) which is important considering two of the hottest Rockies hitters are lefties, Blackmon and McMahon.

Brendan McKay (7.5k both sites) vs. Seattle

McKay is my favorite pivot off Gibson on FanDuel for only 100 more and is badly underpriced on Draftkings compared to how they priced other pitchers in elite matchups. He has the potential to be under-owned on FanDuel and extremely chalky on Draftkings at the same time.

His ERA has swelled over 5 lately, but I still believe that this kid has elite upside. He comes into this matchup with a 27% K rate and is facing Seattle and their 26% K rate. A high strikeout pitcher against a high strikeout offense is always going to make for a compelling GPP play. Now, Seattle had a big day at the plate yesterday, but they still are only implied for 3.4 runs today which is the second-lowest on the slate.