Pitchers
For the Pitcher Chart as well as Hitter picks and analysis, click NEXT!
Max Scherzer
Scherzer is priced all the way up to $14,000 in a home game against the Dodgers. Despite their poor record, the Dodgers are still a formidable offense with high-quality lefty hitters. Even so, Scherzer is the second biggest favorite on the slate and has the lowest OTT. His 40.4% strikeout rate gives him safety (if he gives up a few runs) as well as upside. Scherzer is always a hard fade, but at his price, there is merit to fading him in tournaments. In cash games, if there is enough value, I will take Scherzer’s floor and move on.
Jacob DeGrom
DeGrom is one of the riskiest plays on the slate. He’s been injured and only pitched one inning in his last start. I’m not sure I have the risk tolerance to play him in cash games, but I’ll take a few shots in tournaments. If he’s healthy, he’s significantly underpriced at $9,800 on DraftKings. He’s a moderate favorite and is tied with Scherzer for the lowest OTT. The Diamondbacks have the third highest strikeout rate in the league at 25.7%. They also have the fourth lowest wRC+. If you can tolerate risk, deGrom should be one of your top options.
Felix Hernandez
Hernandez will face the Tigers in Safeco Field. Its a good park for strikeouts and Hernandez will face a Tigers team that is in the middle of the pack in both strikeout rate and wRC+. The Tigers will likely have a righty-heavy lineup, giving Hernandez the platoon advantage against most batters. Hernandez is a moderate favorite and has an OTT of 3.5. Only deGrom and Scherzer have lower OTTs. At $7,100, Hernandez makes a solid pair with Scherzer for cash games.
For the Pitcher Chart as well as Hitter picks and analysis, click NEXT!
Pitcher Chart
To see my favorite hitters for today’s slate, click NEXT!
The pitching chart will be updated often. Make sure to check back for the newest information, especially if a column is currently incomplete!
Last Updated: 5/18/2018 – 6:57 AM CT
| Pitcher | Team | L/R | $Line | OTT | K | +/- | K% | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Stripling | LAD | R | +192 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 25.4 | 5 |
| M. Scherzer | WAS | R | -210 | 3 | 10.5 | 7.5 | 40.4 | 7 1/3 |
| T. Ross | SDP | R | +118 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 26.6 | 5 2/3 |
| I. Nova | PIT | R | -128 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1 | 17.8 | 6 |
| Z. Godley | ARI | R | +145 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.5 | 21.6 | 6 1/3 |
| J. deGrom | NYM | R | -157 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 6 2/3 |
| J. Lester | CHC | L | 6.5 | 6.5 | 19.2 | 6 | ||
| H. Bailey | CIN | R | 3 | 3 | 13.4 | 4 1/3 | ||
| D. Straily | MIA | R | +202 | 5.5 | 5 | -0.5 | 12.9 | 5 |
| S. Newcomb | ATL | L | -221 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.5 | 28.4 | 6 |
| J. Arrieta | PHI | R | +105 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16.5 | 6 |
| M. Wacha | STL | R | -114 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 19.5 | 6 |
| K. Freeland | COL | L | -104 | 4 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 22.6 | 6 |
| D. Holland | SFG | L | -104 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 22.3 | 5 |
| B. Anderson | OAK | L | +120 | 5 | 4 | -1 | 11.8 | 5 |
| M. Estrada | TOR | R | -130 | 4.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 18.1 | 6 |
| A. Cobb | BAL | R | +165 | 5.5 | 4 | -1.5 | 11.4 | 5 |
| D. Pomeranz | BOS | L | -180 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 23.4 | 6 |
| M. Clevinger | CLE | R | +152 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 21.2 | 5 1/3 |
| C. Morton | HOU | R | -165 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 4 | 32.3 | 6 |
| C. Sabathia | NYY | L | -174 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18.8 | 5 2/3 |
| J. Junis | KCR | R | +160 | 5.5 | 5 | -0.5 | 21.7 | 5 1/3 |
| B. Snell | TBR | L | +120 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 25.7 | 5 2/3 |
| N. Tropeano | LAA | R | -130 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 18.8 | 6 |
| M. Fulmer | DET | R | +135 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 20.2 | 6 1/3 |
| F. Hernandez | SEA | R | -146 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.5 | 20.6 | 6 |
| B. Suter | MIL | L | +125 | 4.5 | 3 | -1.5 | 16.2 | 4 2/3 |
| K. Gibson | MIN | R | -135 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 26.5 | 5 1/3 |
Key
L/R = Lefty or Righty
$Line = Money Line
OTT = Opposing team’s run total
K = Projected Strikeouts
+/- = K-OTT
K% = Strikeout Percentage
IP = Innings Projection
Many factors can change between the time I write this article and the time lineups lock. I’ll do my best to update the article, so checking back frequently is encouraged. You can also ask questions on Twitter or Facebook. I’ll do my best to get to all of them!
To see my favorite hitters for today’s slate, click NEXT!
Hitters
Brain Dozier
Dozier will face Brent Suter in Target Field. He’ll have the platoon advantage and faces a pitcher who struggles to strike batters out. He has the second-highest home run projection among second baseman, and should offer some run scoring potential considering the Twins have an OTT of 4.5. Priced at $4,200, Dozier is a lock for cash games, and I’ll have high exposure to him in tournaments.
Joey Gallo/Rangers Lefties
After a disappointing result against James Shields last night, I’m going back to the well with the Rangers against Carson Fulmer. Fulmer is one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball. He has a 5.39 SIERA and has given up 2.37 HR/9 this year. He walks 5.64 batters per nine innings, so there should be base runners most of the game. When you roster Joey Gallo, you know there a potential for multiple strikeouts and a zero in your lineup, but he also has multi-home run upside. Gallo currently has the highest home run projection on the entire slate, but also projects for almost two strikeouts. At $4,000, I’m locking Gallo into my cash games knowing I may end up with a zero, but hoping for the upside. Shin-Soo Choo is priced at $3,600 and is a perfect cash game play. He rarely records a zero, and has provides value at his price. In tournaments, I will include Nomar Mazarra and Rougned Odor as part of a Rangers stack.
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