In-depth analysis of the starting pitchers on Thursday, August 9, 2018 (8/9) MAIN SLATE to help you build winning cash game and tournament lineups on Draftkings and FanDuel.
TOP PLAYS
James Paxton (SEA) @ HOU: 10.6DK , 10FD
We just saw this matchup about a week ago in Seattle. Paxton was able to dominate this depleted Houston team that has Springer, Correa, and Altuve all on the Disabled List. Houston’s last 30-day stats don’t scream play Paxton as they have only a 19% k rate and a very good .192 iso vs lefties. As such, I think we could suppress ownership on this stud pitcher that just dominated this team. He has a 35% k rate vs lefties and a 31% k rate vs righties. He is my favorite pitcher on the slate.
Justin Verlander (HOU) vs SEA: 12.4DK, 11.8FD
In that same game, we have Justin Verlander, who has been an absolute stud this season. While Seattle doesn’t have a huge k rate vs righties over the past month, they have a below avg iso of .135. JV has a massive 37% k rate vs lefties and a 31% k rate vs righties on the year. I wouldn’t blame you if you played him, but I prefer Paxton at a 2K discount.
J.A. Happ (NYY) vs TEX: 9.3DK, 8.4FD
Happ will be facing a left-handed heavy Rangers team that has a 24% k rate and a .188 iso vs lefties over the past month. Texas has been at home a lot recently playing in HOT weather conditions, which helped inflate their numbers vs lefties. They are going from Arlington to New York, and while it’s still a hitter-friendly stadium, I am confident that Happ can cruise through this lineup. He has a 27% k rate vs both righties and lefties while keeping the hard contact to below 30%. He is coming off the disabled list, so watch out for a pitch count during the day.
VALUE/PUNT OPTION
Ivan Nova (PIT) @ SF: 4.9DK , 7.1FD
This is more of a DK option as his price is ridiculously low. He is facing a Giants team that has a 26% k rate and a .144 iso vs righties over the past month. Nova has only an 11% k rate vs lefties but has a 22% k rate vs righties. The more righties for the Giants, the more I like Nova.
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