Pitchers
For the Pitcher Chart as well as Hitter picks and analysis, click NEXT!
Stephen Strasburg (Scratched)
Strasburg is will face the Marlins in Marlins Park. He’s the top option on the slate and is priced at $12,000 on DraftKings. He’s in a tier of his own on Thursday and is a lock in cash games. The Marlins are the sixth worst offense according to wRC+ and have a strikeout rate of 22.9% against righties. If you want to fade Strasburg in tournaments and hope he blows up at high ownership, I understand the play, but it isn’t highly probable. I’ll have Strasburg locked into my cash games and tournaments.
Sonny Gray
Gray face the Royals in Yankee Stadium. He’s priced well for an SP2 at $8,200 on DraftKings and makes a solid pair with Strasburg for cash games. Gray is the biggest favorite on the slate, giving him a fantastic shot at the win. He also has the second lowest OTT (see pitcher chart), only behind Strasburg. Gray is not usually someone the DFS community loves to roster as he has a 5.34 ERA this season and multiple negative fantasy point games this season. At the same time, his SIERA is about a full run better and he’s shown upside scoring at least 20 DK points in four of his past nine games. I’ll have Gray as my SP2 on DraftKings, even if it is a bit contrarian.
Tyler Mahle
With Strasburg scratched, we will have to find an SP2 to pair with Gray. I’m leaning toward Mahle against the Phillies and their 25.2% strikeout rate.
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: 7/26/2018 – 10:57 AM CT
| Pitcher | Team | L/R | $Line | OTT | K | +/- | K% | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z. Godley | ARI | R | +101 | 4.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 22.9 | 5 1/3 |
| T. Chatwood | CHC | R | -109 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 18.8 | 5 |
| S. Matz | NYM | L | +146 | 4.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 20.4 | 5 2/3 |
| N. Kingham | PIT | R | -158 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 22.7 | 5 2/3 |
| R. Suarez | PHI | L | +117 | 5 | 3.5 | -1.5 | 18.8 | 5 |
| T. Mahle | CIN | R | -127 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1 | 21.6 | 5 2/3 |
| T. Milone | WAS | L | -135 | 4 | 3 | -1 | 16.8 | 5 |
| D. Straily | MIA | R | +125 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 18.9 | 5 1/3 |
| R. Hill | LAD | L | -129 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 25.8 | 5 2/3 |
| A. Sanchez | ATL | R | +119 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 24.2 | 5 1/3 |
| W. Miley | MIL | L | +104 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 14.7 | 4 2/3 |
| D. Rodriguez | SFG | L | -113 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 18.9 | 5 2/3 |
| D. Covey | CHW | R | +168 | 5 | 3 | -2 | 16.9 | 5 |
| N. Tropeano | LAA | R | -183 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 19.9 | 5 |
| J. Junis | KCR | R | +237 | 5.5 | 3.5 | -2 | 21.4 | 4 |
| S. Gray | NYY | R | -261 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 21.2 | 6 |
| K. Gibson | MIN | R | +146 | 5.5 | 3 | -2.5 | 23.6 | 5 |
| B. Johnson | BOS | L | -158 | 4.5 | 4 | -0.5 | 19.9 | 5 |
| T. Cahill | OAK | R | -131 | 5 | 4.5 | -0.5 | 24.3 | 5 1/3 |
| B. Colon | TEX | R | +121 | 6 | 3 | -3 | 13.7 | 5 |
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
Yankees Bats
The Yankees will face Jakob Junis in Yankee Stadium. Part of the reason Gray is such a heavy favorite is the Yankees have a team run total of 5.5.The Yankees are the top offense on the slate and have upside as Junis has allowed 2.04 HR/9 this season. Giancarlo Stanton is my favorite play from the Yankees. He projects slightly higher than Aaron Judge today, and costs $700 less. Now that we’re not paying for Strasburg, I’m strongly considering playing both Stanton and Judge. Didi Gregorious is price higher than I’d like, but he’ll have the platoon advantage and the power to pay off his $5,000 salary. A full Yankees stack is definitely in play for tournaments, but will likely be popular tonight.
Brian Dozier
Dozier will face Brian Johnson in Fenway Park. Dozier is priced up, but again, without Strasburg, we have the salary to play him. Even though the Twins struggle against lefties, they have a team run total of 4.5. Dozier is arguably the best bat in this offense, and will have the platoon advantage against Johnson. Against lefties, Johnson has a .239 career wOBA, but allows a .349 wOBA to righties. I love Dozier as a tournament play, and am considering him for cash games as well.
Mike Trout
Trout will face Dylan Covey in Angel Stadium. The Angels have a team run total of five and Covey has a low strikeout rate. Covey also has a high walk rate (3.93 BB/9), which concerns me if I’m paying $6,000 for Trout because it’s hard to reach value with 2 point per at bat. The good news is it’s a great stolen base spot for Trout, giving him a boost if he reaches via the walk. Trout projects as the top option of the day, and my toughest decision is whether to play Judge at $5,600 or find the extra salary for Trout at $6,000.
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