Friday’s 13-game slate is loaded with top-shelf pitching. There is no shortage of elite hurlers to pick from. Additionally, there’s a game at Coors Field. As a result, the bar to clear to win in cash games and place highly in GPPs will be high. The following players could be the key to winning money tonight.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
It's not easy to toss out aces from consideration tonight. Still, the two on the table appear to have the most compelling cases for usage. A pair of cheaper SP2 options on DraftKings in GPPs and cash games join them.
Friday’s 13-game slate is loaded with top-shelf pitching. There is no shortage of elite hurlers to pick from. Additionally, there’s a game at Coors Field. As a result, the bar to clear to win in cash games and place highly in GPPs will be high. The following players could be the key to winning money tonight.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
It's not easy to toss out aces from consideration tonight. Still, the two on the table appear to have the most compelling cases for usage. A pair of cheaper SP2 options on DraftKings in GPPs and cash games join them.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs. PHI
Kershaw continues to sip from the fountain of youth. According to FanGraphs, in five starts, he has had a 1.80 ERA and 2.34 xERA, which are the lowest among tonight's probable pitchers. The veteran lefty isn't missing anything in the strikeout department, either. Kershaw has punched out 29.4% of the hitters he's faced.
In addition, the betting info is great. Betting Pros lists the Dodgers as -222 favorites and the game's total at 7.5 runs. So, Kershaw is the top cash game option.
Dane Dunning (TEX) vs. BOS
It's imperative to leave enough cap space for some stud hitters who avoid top-shelf pitchers tonight. Thankfully, Dunning is a rock-solid pick, albeit with risk against the Red Sox.
The 27-year-old righty has been sharp this year. In six starts spanning 32.0 innings, he's twirled a 3.38 ERA, 3.47 SIERA, 1.22 WHIP, 23.0 K%, and 29.7 CSW%. Dunning will look to keep it up against an offense that has underwhelmed against righties this year. The Red Sox are tied for 24th in wRC+ (85) against right-handed pitchers.
GPP Recommendations:
Kevin Gausman (TOR) at TB
Gausman and the Blue Jays aren't as significant favorites as Kershaw and the Dodgers, but they are -125. Moreover, the game's total of 6.5 runs is outstanding for supporting Gausman's case for usage.
But, of course, Gausman's primary case for usage is his superb work in 2022. In six starts stretching across 38.0 innings, he's had a 2.13 ERA, 2.71 xERA, and 2.12 SIERA. Gausman has also walked only one hitter versus 46 strikeouts. He'll attempt to add to his strikeout ledger against a team with a 25.8 K% versus righties in 2022. So, Gausman's scoring upside is enormous.
Chase Silseth (LAA) at OAK
Silseth is making his big-league debut against a team that's scuffling against righties. The rebuilding A's are last in wRC+ (69) against righties. They're also adding to the appeal of picking against them with righties by striking out at a whopping 26.3% clip.
Silseth has been too much for Double-A hitters in 2022. He has had a 1.73 ERA and 2.98 xFIP in five starts totaling 26.0 innings. Additionally, he's struck out 37 of the 99 batters he's faced. The leap from Double-A to the majors creates a risk for using Silseth. Nevertheless, the upside is undeniable, and the betting data is a checkmark in the pros column. The Angels are -150 favorites, and the game's total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
Top Lineup Stacks
Josiah Gray is a better pitcher than gamers typically go out of their way to stack against, speaking to the high-quality hurlers toeing the slab tonight. Still, he's not perfect. This year, Gray has yielded 1.44 HR/9 with a 12.2 BB% in six starts. So, Houston's high-powered offense can make him pay for below-average control and a propensity to serve up dingers.
- Home (Coors Field)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 10.5 Runs/COL -140
It's rarely cheap to stack the Rockies at home, and tonight isn't an exception. However, the game's total and MLB-best hitter conditions at Coors Field are too tasty to ignore. Zack Greinke's pitch-to-contact approach in Colorado is like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. It's not going to work.
- This year, Yordan Alvarez has been a wrecking ball, slugging 10 homers with a .337 ISO and 192 wRC+ in 116 plate appearances.
- C.J. Cron has excelled with the Rockies. In 675 plate appearances donning a Rockies' uniform since last year, he has had a .369 OBP, .260 ISO, and 131 wRC+ with 37 round-trippers.
- Jose Altuve has been a sparkplug atop Houston's lineup, amassing a .353 OBP, .257 ISO, 163 wRC+, six homers, and two stolen bases in 85 plate appearances.
- Michael Brantley lacks jaw-dropping power or speed. Nevertheless, his 124 wRC+ in 2022 and lineup spot are excellent for daily baseball.
- This year, Jorge Mateo's 94 wRC+ hasn't been anything to write home about. Still, it's not too shabby. Additionally, his nine stolen bases help pick up the slack for his mediocre stick.
- Luis Arraez rolls out of bed, ready to hit. In 780 plate appearances against righties, he has had a .383 OBP and 125 wRC+.
- Brad Miller is a good punt based on hitting leadoff alone. Still, with a multi-hit effort that included a homer last night, he's up to a 113 wRC+ in 2022.
Friday's Hitter Strategy
Investing heavily in Houston's and Colorado's hitters is suggested tonight. However, punts like Mateo, Arraez, and Miller are necessary to squeeze the salaries under the cap.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
