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MLB DFS advice: pitching gems September 13 – Cole against the world

By Brandon Lauderback

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 08: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros heads to the locker room after the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on September 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 08: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros heads to the locker room after the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on September 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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MLB DFS Advice
MLB DFS Advice: 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) /

Top MLB DFS Advice Pitchers

Gerrit Cole – How rare is it that we have two pitchers from the same team, battling it out for the CY Young. We have just that this year, because one of either Cole, or Verlander will be winning that award. Both are in great form, and Cole has really been turning it on to close out the season.

He has 2.49 xFIP, 39.4% K rate, 41.1% GB rate, and 34% HC rate on the year. He will see quite a bit of righties in this Royal lineup, which does drop his K rate down to 36%, but he manages power on that side better, which is where the Royals have some power bats.

Pitch Mix – We will focus on his mix against RHH since that is what he will see more. It is pretty cut and dry for Cole, 50% fastball, and 40% slider, very rarely throwing a curve. The fastball whiffs are up in August, and September to above 30%, with the slider also seeing a recent increase in whiffs, 50% in September, and all the way up to 64% in his last outing.

The GB rate is still above 50% on the slider, and was at a season high 43% in September. Cole also has the best fastball in the league, which is something I have mentioned on numerous occasions. It averages 97 MPH in velocity, moving over ten inches vertically.

I can see Kansas City really struggling with his slider specifically, and Cole should easily continue his streak of ten or more strikeouts, while coasting to another 60 point fantasy outing.

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