Brandon C. Williams 
Merry Tuesday and welcome to the 8/13 DFS Pitching Picks. You simply want to know where to put your money when it comes to pitching on this full schedule, so to hell with wondering how I’m doing so long as my fingers keep typing and my brilliance leads to the long green on a night filled with excellent options.
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8/13 DFS Pitching Cash Game Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, HOU at CWS
DK ($12,700) FD ($12,400)
Cole has amassed at least 40 FanDuel points in 10 of his past 11 starts and comes into the nightcap of a twin-bill at Guaranteed Rate Field with at least 40 FD in seven straight starts. He’s going to cost a pretty penny, but damned if he’s not worth it. Cole averages 12.98 K/9 while holding opposing bats to a .199 average. Even with an increased hard contact (35.2%) rate, you have to put Cole ahead of (almost all) the Tuesday pack for the simple fact he’s facing one of the league’s most free-swinging teams in the White Sox, who are 25th overall with 1,115 whiffs. That’s a robust average of 9.61 strikeouts per game, so even if Cole falls short of his K/9 rate, he stands a good chance to be money well spent.
Clayton Kershaw, LAD at MIA
DK ($11,800) FD ($12,000)
As much as Cole and his strikeout potential look tempting to use, Kershaw gets the Tuesday night edge here. Kershaw’s K/9 have fallen to “just’ 9.07, but the combination of a 1.94 BB/9 rate and a matchup against the league’s second-lowest scoring offense is a winning pair. Miami is averaging a mere 3.66 runs per game and are tied with Detroit for the Major League worst in OPS+ (78). Add the fact the game is being played the offensive hellhole known as Marlins Park, and Kershaw — who is slightly less expensive than Cole — is going to be (with all apologies to Becky Lynch) The Man when it comes to pitching options tonight.
8/13 DFS Pitching GPP Pitchers
Chris Sale, BOS at CLE
DK ($10,700) FD ($10,500)
There can be no Sale when it comes to making him a reliable cash game hurler. What a difference a year makes, huh? Sale comes off a 13-K gem over eight scoreless innings against the Angels last time out, but he had a combined 18 FanDuel points in his previous two starts. Come for the strikeouts (13.18 K/9) but his 1.41 HR/9 is more than double his rate from 2018, and it is abundantly factual that hitters have pounded Sale at career-high levels, especially when one looks at the 35.8% hard contact rate, the first time since 2016 and only the second time in his career that Sale’s HCR has gone above 30. The decreased velocity in his heater (93.1 mph) has also thrown up a red flag. There’s a lot to love here, just enough to suggest Sale, who sees the new AL Central leaders for the first time this season.
Max Fried, ATL vs. NYM
DK ($6,700) FD ($8,400)
Fried’s mound opponent, Zack Wheeler, is on the outside looking in only because he’s more expensive. That’s not to take away from Fried, who has shown strong signs of maturity since the All-Star Break, dropping his ERA from 4.29 to 3.32 along with whacking his OBA from .283 to .244. He’s juiced his K/9 rate to 9.12 after striking out 10 in a win against the Twins in his last start and while his control isn’t Kershaw-like, Fried’s 2.62 BB/9 is a big check on his positive side. While he owns a 12:2 K:BB rate in 11 innings against the Mets this season, he has been hit to the tune of .356 in his two starts, yet this is much different Fried the Mets will be looking at. New York has yet to homer against him, as Fried’s 22.2% fly ball rate is an encouraging number for those considering to run with the young Braves hurler.
8/13 DFS Pitching Punt Play
Zac Gallen, ARI at COL
DK ($7,000) FD ($7,000)
Gallen has yet to allow more than three earned runs in his first eight starts, and I’m betting he’ll make it nine despite having to make his first appearance at Coors Field. The rookie comes into Tuesday having recorded at least 39 FanDuel points in his last three starts and has gone at least seven innings in two of those outings. Walks (4.57 BB/9) have been his biggest issue, yet Gallen hasn’t been taxed dearly (at least for now) as he’s allowed just three homers in 41.1 innings. Colorado is 22nd in batter strikeouts and makes a nice fit for Gallen, who is averaging 10.67 K/9. There is considerable risk here, but I think there’s high reward for those willing to gamble.
8/13 DFS Stack Plays
New York Yankees: They’re playing Fantasy Baseball when facing the Orioles staff. Start with Gleyber Torres ($4,400/$3,600 DK/FD) and figure out the rest.
Houston Astros: Josh Reddick ($3,400/$2,700) is the hidden gem against Ivan Nova, who is due for regression after four straight solid starts.
Cincinnati Reds: Aristides Aquino ($4,600/$3,900) is the anchor of an underrated stack at Nationals hurler Joe Ross, who is vulnerable to the long ball.
