MLB DFS pitching gems August 22: An obvious stud, and a gem

MLB DFS: HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros looks toward home plate as he walks off the mound in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park on June 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 24: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 24, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

MLB DFS Pitching Plays

Mike Soroka – Mike is the master of managing contact, and preventing the long ball. Now Miami is a team that is not known for hitting home runs, but they are known for hitting a ton of GB. They have a .128 ISO, 25% K rate, and 52% GB against RHP.

Soroka will face mostly all RHH, where his numbers are elite. With a .053 ISO, 23.5% K rate, 58% GB rate, and 35% HC. I absolutely love this play, and will not hesitate to lock him in over Cole.

Pitch Mix – We will focus on the pitch mix against RHH since he will face so many. He is one of the few pitchers who can throw the sinker over 50%, and have so much success with it. It gets 20% whiffs, the change is getting over 50% recently, and the slider is getting 40%.

That sinker is getting over 65% GB, the change is over 50% as well. The movement is pretty average on everything, nothing that is anything amazing. Overall this is a match-up that he should dominate in, and if he gets a few extra strikeouts, Soroka could have a performance equal to that of Cole.