There is a bevy of top pitching options on tonight’s robust 11-game slate. There’s also no shortage of upside from the touted stacks.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel
Wednesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I've played every main slate this season, and I can't recall one where pitcher salaries have differed so wildly between DraftKings and FanDuel. Lucas Giolito is listed as the top cash-game recommendation, and he is, but only on FanDuel.
Max Scherzer is grossly underpriced on DraftKings, where he's my no-brainer favorite pitcher in all game types. Zach Thompson is having a fabulous rookie season and has a bargain salary on DraftKings, making him my slam-dunk SP2 in cash games there. Another huge salary difference between these two daily fantasy providers, Eduardo Rodriguez looks reasonably priced on DraftKings. Yet he's a bargain on FanDuel.
There is a bevy of top pitching options on tonight’s robust 11-game slate. There’s also no shortage of upside from the touted stacks.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel
Wednesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I've played every main slate this season, and I can't recall one where pitcher salaries have differed so wildly between DraftKings and FanDuel. Lucas Giolito is listed as the top cash-game recommendation, and he is, but only on FanDuel.
Max Scherzer is grossly underpriced on DraftKings, where he's my no-brainer favorite pitcher in all game types. Zach Thompson is having a fabulous rookie season and has a bargain salary on DraftKings, making him my slam-dunk SP2 in cash games there. Another huge salary difference between these two daily fantasy providers, Eduardo Rodriguez looks reasonably priced on DraftKings. Yet he's a bargain on FanDuel.
Cash Game Recommendations
Lucas Giolito (CWS) vs. KC
It took Giolito some getting used to MLB's crackdown on sticky substances. However, even including some rough starts in the aftermath, he sports a 3.32 ERA, 4.29 SIERA, 1.18 WHIP, 23.4 K%, and 29.4 CSW% in his last seven starts totaling 43.1 innings, per FanGraphs. Overall, not too shabby.
He faces the Royals tonight as a massive favorite in a plus matchup. BettingPros lists the Pale Hose as -265 favorites. As for the Royals, they're tied for 26th in wRC+ against righties (85) this year.
Zach Thompson (MIA) vs. NYM
Thompson is the Marlins' latest developmental success story. He's responsible for a 2.33 ERA, 4.03 SIERA, 1.09 WHIP, 25.9 K%, and 29.5 CSW% in eight starts lasting 38.2 innings. He's flanked by his spacious, pitcher-friendly home ballpark tonight in a middle-of-the-road matchup.
According to the FantasyPros park factors, loanDepot park has the fourth-lowest park factor for runs (0.895) and suppresses homers at the highest rate (0.753). Revisiting the matchup, the Mets are tied for 16th in wRC+ against righties (93).
GPP Recommendations
Max Scherzer (LAD) vs. HOU
The Astros are the top offense in baseball against righties, sporting a gaudy 119 wRC+. Scherzer is nonetheless underpriced on DraftKings relative to his excellence. Mad Max's 4.01 ERA in six starts spanning 33.2 innings since the foreign-substance crackdown leaves something to be desired. Still, his 30.9 K% and 32.1 CSW% in those turns are elite.
Further, Scherzer's been in vintage form over the course of the full season, spinning a 2.76 ERA and slate-best 3.01 SIERA. I'm betting on his talent getting the better of the Astros tonight.
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS) at DET
E-Rod's had multiple hiccups this year. However, he's flashed enough goodness to roll the dice on in GPPS. Rodriguez has recorded a 3.32 SIERA and 30.3 K% in his last seven starts totaling 33 innings.
In addition, taking a chance on him tonight is an easier pill to swallow, given his matchup. The Tigers rank 20th in wRC+ against lefties (95). But, more importantly, their 26.0 K% is fifth-highest against southpaws. The matchup thus enhances E-Rod's ceiling immensely.
Top Lineup Stacks
Don't be fooled by Matt Harvey's 3.09 ERA in his last six starts. He has a much less imposing 4.59 SIERA during that stretch. Also, it's Matt freakin' Harvey, owner of an ERA north of six in four of his last five seasons. The outlier season saw him post a 4.94 ERA. He's basically a punching bag at this point in his career.
The Rockies exploded last night. For all of their faults, they've taken advantage of the luscious hitting conditions at Coors Field this year. Colorado's .344 wOBA at home is the second-highest mark at home in 2021.
The Braves roughed up one washed-up southpaw, Jon Lester, last night. They draw an even more washed-up lefty, J.A. Happ, tonight. My mind is still blown that the Cardinals traded for a pitcher with a 6.77 ERA, 4.95 SIERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 1.92 HR/9 innings this year.
- Giancarlo Stanton is the most affordable of the Bronx Bombers' big boppers. Yet his .347 OBP, .214 ISO, and 125 wRC+ against righties this year are all stellar.
- Aaron Judge has been a pinch better against righties this year, recording a .353 OBP, .218 ISO, and 130 wRC+.
- Anthony Rizzo is the least accomplished hitter against righties this year of New York's key hitters. However, he's white-hot since joining the Yankees. Further, his first-base eligibility makes him a nice fit on my favorite lineup builds.
- Sam Hilliard homered last night, and he's thrived in a small sample of plate appearances at home in his young career. I have him listed as the eighth hitter in the projected lineup above. However, it wouldn't surprise me if Colorado finally moves him up in the order. Regardless of where he hits, he's my favorite bargain hitter at both sites tonight.
- The pricing disparity is large between DraftKings and FanDuel for Ryan McMahon. He's reasonably priced at FanDuel, but comically underpriced at DraftKings. McMahon has a .225 ISO at home this year.
- Dansby Swanson has been a below-average hitter against lefties this year, as evidenced by his 90 wRC+. Nonetheless, I'm fixated on his .242 ISO against southpaws. Swanson's power dovetails perfectly with Happ's .582 SLG yielded to 368 right-handed batters faced this year.
Wednesday's Hitter Strategy
I'm attacking Harvey with the Bronx Bombers tonight. Whether that's with a full stack or just the core studs depends on the volume of entries and game types I enter. They're easily my favorite stack tonight and a cash game lock. Still, Hilliard will likely be the player I'm most exposed to as a screaming value on both sites.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.