DraftKings MLB Pitcher Plays:
Top Tier:
Justin Verlander ($12,000): There are enough reasons to pay down that you can safely avoid Verlander tonight. That’s all the more reason to use him at least once. The Rays are hitting just .198 with a homer and four runs with a staggering 34 strikeouts in 91 at bats. You have to stay out of Coors almost entirely to play Verlander, but Verlander is a sure 30 DraftKings points. Can you say with certainty which hitter will be?
Patrick Corbin ($11,200): Corbin is 6-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 12 home starts this year, so you can use him against just about anyone at home. That includes the righty heavy Orioles. Corbin has only allowed three runs on 13 hits in his last three starts and two of those were on the road. He’s one of the safest pitchers out there tonight.
Walker Buehler ($11,000): Buehler struck out 15 Padres in a complete game against them in his only career start. That was good for 51.8 DraftKings points. I’m not sure Buehler will have that great of a game again, but the strikeout upside is just the same. Buehler has huge upside here, and I can see playing him as your ace and pocketing the $1,000 between him and Verlander.
Middle Tier:
Luis Castillo ($10,000): Castillo two hit the Marlins in seven shutout innings earlier this year, racking up 34 DraftKings points in the process. Miami has a habit of kicking aces at home, but that isn’t always the case. The Marlins still struggle against righties even if they have a bit of success here and there. I’ll venture to say it wont be here. Castillo may get lost in the shuffle, but another 30+ is likely tonight.
Mike Soroka ($9,300): This slate is so stacked that a guy with a 10-2 record and 2.41 ERA is priced under five figures. Soroka has been even better than that on the road, posting a 6-0 record and league leading road 1.32 ERA in 13 starts. The Blue Jays don’t scare me even with a DH. Soroka doesn’t have massive strikeout upside, but he is still well worth this price tonight.
Mike Fiers ($8,500): Fiers hasn’t been all that good on the road this season. Try telling that to the White Sox. Fiers lit them up on the South Side about ten days ago. Fiers has a 2.38 ERA in his last ten starts and has not lost in that span. The Royals are cold and strike out a lot. Fiers is probably too expensive for SP2, but if you are punting the top tier, Fiers is a solid play.
Bargain Pitchers:
Adrian Houser ($5,000): Houser picked up 21.2 DraftKings points on this same Cardinals squad just last week and his price went down? Sure, I’ll take it! The Cardinals are heating up at the plate lately, so there’s risk here. Just ask Gio. However, the Cardinals are better against lefties. Houser has a fighting chance to put up another 20 spot tonight.
Steven Brault ($4,800): Brault hasn’t won a game since June 14, but he has a 2.62 ERA since then. Thanks a lot, offense! Brault is priced like one of the worst pitchers on the slate, and that just isn’t true. He lacks the upside because Brault doesn’t rack up strikeouts. However, it’s hard to argue with his recent run of success. If he can break double digits tonight, that’s a solid return. Let’s face it: if you want a bunch of Red Sox, you almost have to use Brault.
Mike Montgomery ($4,000): Why do I want to chase Montgomery again? Is it because I don’t think he’s the worst pitcher on the slate despite being minimum price? Maybe. Is it because of the 2.94 ERA in three home starts? Probably. Is it because the A’s aren’t a great hitting team? Call it all of the above. All I know is that Montgomery is worth more than this, so I’ll play him to get bats.
My picks: Buehler, Soroka; Soroka, Brault; Houser, Brault; Verlander, Brault