Pitcher List is proud to partner with DraftKings for the 2019 season. We’ll be featuring our top picks for every daily slate through the season and feature articles dedicated to the GPP.
Top Play SP: Gerrit Cole, HOU ($12,000) at STL
Anytime Gerrit Cole is on the slate, he has to be the top option. Among qualified starters, Cole leads the league in strikeout rate at 37.9%. Over the last six weeks, Cole’s opponent, the Cardinals, have a wRC+ of just 86 against right-handed pitching. And just in case you needed a bonus, Busch Stadium has played as the fourth-worst park in terms of runs scored this season. If you can afford him, Cole is the pitcher to lock in today.
Honorable mention: Mike Clevinger, CLE ($11,400) at KCR.
Value SP: Max Fried, ATL ($7,800) at PHI
As is the case with most of our value plays, this certainly carries a bit of risk. Max Fried has the highest strikeout rate of our value pitchers at 22.9%. Fried also has a pCRA of 3.48, which ranks fourth-lowest on the slate, behind just Cole, Clevinger, and Clayton Kershaw. That’s a nice grouping to be a part of. Fried has a matchup against the Phillies, who have been up and down all year. In the last six weeks, the Phillies have a mediocre 98 wRC+ against left-handed pitching and have the fourth-highest strikeout rate.
Honorable mention: Cal Quantrill, SDP ($6,600) vs. SFG.
Top Play: OF J.D. Martinez, BOS ($4,800) vs. NYY
Could I interest you in a right-handed batter who has a .412 ISO and .502 wOBA against a left-handed pitcher who’s allowed a .267 ISO and .376 wOBA against righties? Yes? Then allow me to introduce you to J.D. Martinez. He’s busted out of his slump and gets a great matchup against CC Sabathia. The Red Sox are one of my favorite stacks on this slate, but unfortunately, DraftKings did its job and priced Boston’s hitters up pretty good.
Honorable mention: OF Max Kepler, MIN ($5,100) at CHW; OF Shohei Ohtani, LAA ($4,800) vs. TBR.
Top Play: SS Jorge Polanco, MIN ($4,800) at CHW
I’ll admit it, I have a massive man-crush on Jorge Polanco. In my nine season-long leagues this year, I have him in all nine leagues, and he is not the reason I’m not winning them. Polanco has put up a .241 ISO and .404 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year and gets a dream matchup against Ivan Nova. Nova has not been good this year, outside a stellar outing against the Marlins, and has allowed a .375 wOBA to lefties. I really like the Twins as a full stack if you can afford them today.
Honorable mention: SS Francisco Lindor, CLE ($5,300) at KCR; C/1B Travis d’Arnaud, TBR ($4,300) at TOR.
Value: OF Justin Upton, LAA ($3,900) at BAL
I just don’t understand this price for Justin Upton. He has a .212 ISO and .406 wOBA against right-handed pitching and gets a matchup against Aaron Brooks and the Orioles’ mediocre bullpen. Angel Stadium has also played as the ninth-best park in terms of scoring runs. The upside you get with Upton at this value is just unavoidable.
Honorable mention: 1B Austin Nola, SEA ($3,900) vs. DET; OF Tommy Pham, TBR ($4,100) at TOR.
Top Stack: Indians at Royals (RHP Glenn Sparkman)
Today, I’m excited to pick on Glenn Sparkman and his 12.5% strikeout rate. While I’m comfortable with stacking all of the Indians today, a deeper dive reveals that Sparkman has allowed a .288 ISO and .377 wOBA against left-handed batters. I’m starting my stack with Francisco Lindor ($5,300) and then going to Jason Kipnis ($3,600), Jose Ramirez ($4,600), Jake Bauers ($3,300), and Tyler Naquin ($4,100). However, keep an eye on the lineup, because if Carlos Santana ($4,300) is back in there, he’s a must-play in this situation. Good luck today.
Honorable mention: Twins at White Sox (RHP Ivan Nova); Angels vs. Orioles (RHP Aaron Brooks).
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is RMoss1983) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games on which I offer advice. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings, and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any nonpublic information.