DFS MLB Pitching Picks for July 17: Click with Clevinger

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With a nine game Main slate on FanDuel we have high, mid, and low end options for DFS MLB pitching.  One stands out far above the rest but we have cheaper options and potential pivots.  

Top Overall DFS MLB Pitching Arm – Mike Clevinger ($9,400 FD).  Clevinger has a crazy K Rate of 37.9% on the season and gets the matchup we should be targeting with any RHP in the Detroit Tigers.  Even though they have added a few left handed bats since the All-Star break they still have a team K Rate of 24.3% vs. RHPs. In addition, the Tigers have lacked power as a team with an ISO of .145.  He’s my number one in all formats.

Tournament DFS MLB Pitching Pivot 1 – Robbie Ray ($9,600 FD).  Ray gets the Rangers, who currently have a K Rate of 26.4% against lefties and Ray has a K Rate of 30.8% on the season.  Hunter Pence came back to the lineup and makes the matchup a little tougher for lefties. With Ray you have to worry about walks since he has a 11.9% rate.  The great hitting weather and the walk rate make him a GPP only option for me. However, he could easily be the highest scoring pitcher and might break the slate.

Tournament DFS MLB Pitching Pivot 2 – Gerrit Cole ($11,400 FD).  While I never like to pay this much for a pitcher against a lineup that only strikes out 17.8% of the time against right handed pitchers, he is in play because he goes deep into games and has a massive K Rate of 37.4.  However, he will fall out of my player pool if Trout comes back tonight. I think if Trout is out of the lineup he becomes a great GPP play since the Angels have a team ISO of .165. This is important because where Cole struggles is with the long ball.  If the long ball risk is mitigated, I’d be willing to take my chances with him against a low K lineup. Ownership should be low for him tonight due to price and matchup.

Salary DFS MLB Pitching Saver – Trevor Richards ($6,400 FD).  San Diego has K Rate of 25.3% against Righties on the season but they also bring some power bats.  He has a 23.0% K Rate against righties and he could see up to seven of them in the Padres lineup. This power risk is mitigated some since Marlins Park is a pitcher’s park.  If Richards avoids the long ball, there are enough strikeouts in this lineup to pay off the price tag and possibly make him the best points per dollar play on the slate.