MLB DFS Pitcher Chart & Lineup Advice – 5/22/2017
Last Updated: 5/21/2017 –Â 7:11 AM CT
The pitcher chart is located under my top plays!Â
Top Plays
Zack Greinke
Greinke is price up in his matchup against the White Sox. The good news is the White Sox will be without a DH, meaning Miguel Gonzalez will have to hit. They also strike out at the sixth highest rate against righties and have the sixth worst wRC+. Greinke has the lowest OTT (see pitcher chart) on the slate, and has been dominant over his past six starts, averaging over 28 DK points per game. He’s expensive, but I’m not a big fan of any other pitcher on this slate, so I’ll probably pay for him in cash games.
Michael Pineda
Pineda is the next best option, but I’m not convinced he’s a cash game option. I’ll likely reserve my Pineda exposure to GPPs, but he does have a few things going for him. He has a 28.8% strikeout percentage this season and the Royals have the third worst wRC+ against righties. He’s my second-favorite option on the slate, but I’ll likely just pay up for Greinke in cash games.
JC Ramirez
Ramirez will take on a Rays team that still leads the league in strikeout percentage against righties. They also have the second-highest wRC+ against righties. This isn’t a safe option, but I’m hoping Ramirez can strike out enough Rays to reach value. I don’t like any pitchers on this slate other than Greinke, so I’m going to try to pay down for my SP2 to fit in some bats. I can do that with Ramirez and not be too worried about a blow-up start.
Kris Bryant/Cubs
We have the wind blowing out in Wrigley once again, making the Cubs hitters the top options again. It’s become boring to recommend the Cubs bats almost every time I write an article, but they haven’t faced quality pitching in a while, and the wind continues to blow out in Wrigley. Ty Blach has a 7.6% strikeout rate this season, so the Cubs should put a lot of balls in play. Kris Bryant is my favorite play on the slate. He’ll have the platoon advantage and has the second highest home run projection on the slate.
Brandon Belt/Giants
The Giants also project well. They’re getting a park boost heading into Wrigley and even though John Lackey is a solid pitcher, the Giants hitters are too cheap for the hitting environment. Belt will hold the platoon advantage, is just $4,000, and qualifies in the outfield. Buster Posey is my favorite catcher of the day and will be locked into all of my cash game lineups.
Brian Dozier
Dozier will face Ubaldo Jimenez in Camden Yards. Dozier has the highest home run projection for second baseman on the slate, and is too cheap at $4,400 on DraftKings. I may end up with Joe Panik in cash games, but if I can find ways to save elsewhere, I’m going to try to pay up for Dozier. At minimum, I will have tons of exposure to Dozier’s power upside in tournaments.
Notes
Jerad Eickhoff and Jake Odorizzi are both projecting well and would be solid SP2s at their prices on DraftKings.
The pitching chart will be updated often. Make sure to check back for the newest information, especially if a column is currently incomplete!
| Pitcher | Team | L/R | $Line | OTT | K | +/- | K% | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Hoffman | COL | R | -104 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 1/3 | |
| J. Eickhoff | PHI | R | -104 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1 | 21.3 | 6 |
| G. Cole | PIT | R | -119 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 22.2 | 6 1/3 |
| M. Foltynewicz | ATL | R | +110 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 17.7 | 6 |
| T. Blach | SFG | L | +165 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 4 | |
| J. Lackey | CHC | R | -180 | 4 | 4 | 23.7 | 5 1/3 | |
| J. Vargas | KCR | L | +152 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1 | 22.5 | 5 1/3 |
| M. Pineda | NYY | R | -165 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 28.8 | 6 1/3 |
| K. Gibson | MIN | R | +129 | 5 | 4 | -1 | 12.4 | 5 2/3 |
| U. Jimenez | BAL | R | -140 | 4.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 16.6 | 5 2/3 |
| J. Ramirez | LAA | R | +106 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 20.3 | 6 |
| J. Odorizzi | TBR | R | -115 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 20.3 | 6 1/3 |
| M. Fulmer | DET | R | +111 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 21.3 | 6 |
| B. Peacock | HOU | R | -120 | 4 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 4 1/3 | |
| J. Tomlin | CLE | R | -108 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 18.3 | 6 |
| S. Feldman | CIN | R | +100 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 18.2 | 6 |
| M. Gonzalez | CHW | R | +176 | 5 | 3.5 | -1.5 | 13.6 | 5 |
| Z. Greinke | ARI | R | -192 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 28.6 | 7 |
Key
L/R = Lefty or Righty
$Line = Money Line
OTT = Opposing team’s run total
K = Projected Strikeouts
+/- = OTT-K
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 @fantasbeast15. I’ll do my best to get to all of them!
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