Adam Strangis MLB DFS Starting Rotation 8.22
We have 10 games in front of us today and the pitching options are…well, not the most exciting we’ve ever had. I suppose that’s what happens when you have a couple of exciting days like Friday and Saturday. We’re going to need to dig to find some options for the MLB DFS Starting Rotation 8.22 so let’s get to work and find the gems!
MLB DFS Starting Rotation 8.22 – Main Targets
The Ace Tier
I suppose even though some of these names don’t have a ton of sizzle, there are some string options in the Ace Tier. The first pitcher that catches my eye is Adam Wainwright and the last time he saw this Bucco offense, he went nuts for the complete game shutout for 42 DK points. We obviously can’t expect that outcome again but he’s started against them twice this year for 17 IP, 14 K’s, and one each of a walk, earned run, and a home run. Pittsburgh is 28th against the curve and dead last against fastballs, so it’s an elite pitch type matchup for Waino. He’s been better at home for what that’s worth and the HR/9 is only 0.81 in St. Louis. His curve has only allowed a .255 wOBA and it has 58 strikeouts, making him my favorite of the Aces.
I don’t care for paying the top of the slate salary for a pitcher that has a K rate under 22% but Framber Valdez could be the exception to that rule. Seattle is ninth in ground ball rate against lefties and Valdez is a worm-killer with a 69.3% ground ball rate. The hard-hit rate is also just 27.5% but his Achilles heel is he really just has just one strikeout pitch in his curveball. It has 67 of 86 on the year and it’s the only pitch with a wOBA under .320. Three projected lefties in the Seattle lineup could help Valdez with a 30.8% K rate against that side of the plate to go with a 2.72 FIP and 3.04 xFIP. The Mariners should also help with a 26% K rate as a team, but I do prefer Waino.
Nathan Eovaldi gets arguably the softest matchup with the Rangers and has put together a strong season overall with a 3.91 ERA and 3.67 xFIP to go with a 24.1% K rate. His wOBA is higher against the right side of the plate at .336 but the xFIP is lower against righties with a 3.57 mark. Perhaps the largest fear is Eovaldi is slated to face six righties and the pitch types hurt him a little bit. He uses his curveball much more against lefties and that has a 37.3% whiff rate and a .221 wOBA with 29 strikeouts. Against righties, he’s using the slider and that only has 18 strikeouts and a .350 wOBA. Pairing Wainwright with Valdez or Eovaldi makes plenty of sense.
The Mid-Range
Touki Toussaint has been a bit of a roller-coaster in his time in the Atlanta rotation. The 4.22 xFIP isn’t too bad and neither is the 25% K rate. He’s had his share of poor starts but man this spot is great since Toussaint is better against righties with a .284 wOBA, 27.5% K rate, and a 3.17 xFIP. Baltimore typically plays seven righties and they are one of the worst offenses in baseball against righty pitching. They are no higher than 22nd in OBP, slugging, OPS, ISO, wOBA, and wRC+ with a 24.4% K rate. His pitch mix is about equal to both sides and his curve/splitter are the strikeout combo. They have 25 of 35 already and both have a whiff rate over 41%. The Orioles are in the bottom-eight against both of those pitches and Toussaint is very intriguing.
There are a lot of metrics that scream to not play Vladimir Gutierrez but facing the Marlins can certainly help change the perspective. His K rate is average on the season at 17.8% but he’s gone over five in his past three starts. The swinging-strike rate in the past two starts has been over 12.5%, a welcome sight. His ERA would suggest he struggles at home but the xFIP is 4.67 in Cincy compared to 5.57 on the road, which is interesting. It should theoretically help his strikeout upside that Miami is projected to have six righties and the pitcher spot in the lineup. Gutierrez has a 21.1% K rate against that side with just a 4.39 xFIP. With Miami sitting sixth in K rate at 25.2%, we might be able to squeeze out one more good start from Gutierrez.
MLB DFS Starting Rotation 8.22 Stacks
With five targets under $10,000, we have some freedom in building the stacks today. They bit me yesterday but I’m ready to go right back to the Blue Jays. They draw Drew Hutchison and the Tigers bullpen since Hutchison threw only 52 pitches in his first start. He walked out of that start with a 12.69 xFIP, 44.4% hard-hit rate, and a 55.6% fly-ball rate. I don’t think we need to be all that picky here. You can play Vlad Jr., Marcus Semien, Corey Dickerson, Teoscar Hernandez, Bo Bichette… I’m legitimately fine with any of them. Hutchison threw the fastball about 48% of the time and threw for a 7.7% swinging-strike rate. Detroit’s bullpen is bottom 10 in FIP, xFIP, and WHIP on the season. Game on!
We can also utilize the Astros against Tyler Anderson, who’s allowing a 44% fly-ball rate and a 4.47 xFIP against righty hitters. He really pounds the fastball and changes against righties and to no surprise, that duo has allowed 13 of 17 bombs on the season. Aledmys Diaz stands out with a .405 wOBA and .254 ISO against lefties while Yuli Gurriel sits at a .259 ISO himself. Both those hitters are in the top-four against the changeup and Gurriel and Carlos Correa are in the top 20 in baseball. I plan on mixing these two lineups as the main portions of my offense with Wainwright and Toussaint or Gutierrez as my SP2.
- Red Sox against Kolby Allard (they have to break out sometime)
- Brewers against Sean Nolin
- Tigers against Steven Matz
Thank you for reading my MLB DFS Starting Rotation 8.22 and make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life! Be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate!
