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MLB DFS pitching gems August 20: Bieber fever in New York

By Brandon Lauderback

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 09: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians acknowledges the crowd during the 90th MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 09: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians acknowledges the crowd during the 90th MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 10: Aaron Sanchez #18 of the Houston Astros pitches during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 10, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Plays

Aaron Sanchez  – The trade over to Houston is really a blessing for the former Blue Jays pitcher. This pitching program is one that is known for developing young arms, with potential and letting them thrive. Sanchez on the year, has a 47% GB rate, 5.10 xFIP, 20% K rate, with 39% HC. Detroit will be his opponent, and they have the highest K rate in the league at 26.3%, with only a .150 ISO, 76 wRC+, and almost a 50% GB rate. Needless to say this couldn’t be a better spot for Sanchez.

Pitch Mix – Since coming to Houston, he has really increased that fastball usage, and decreased the sinker usage. Overall it is a 30% swing to both pitches. Also making a slight increase to his curve. The whiffs are pretty solid on the curve, at 34%, The GB rate is 50% on his change, and sinker, now that sinker was yielding a pretty high ISO, so I understand the change to decrease using it, but so does his fastball so this will be something for us to monitor towards the end of the year.

That curve gets over eight inches of movement, and if he continues to use the fastball he will need to increase the movement on it because currently its around seven inches. Even in the great match-up this is more of a GPP play for me, just until we can get a better grasp on what Houston plans on doing with his pitches.