Adam Strangis MLB DFS: Starting Rotation 8.22
My goodness, was it an absolute minefield for pitching last night. Walker Buehler, Max Fried and Chad Kuhl were about the only two that hit and Buehler was the only big hit. Past that, it was littered with busted chalk and pitchers that couldn’t get out of their own way. There’s not many more obvious choices for MLB DFS: Starting Rotation 8.22 but we’ll unearth some gems along the way here!
Cash Game Options
Zac Gallen
Gallen was featured today in Picks and Pivots so there’s no need to go over him again.
Zack Wheeler
Pitch Data – FB – 1st SL – 6th CB – 8th CH – 25th
At first glance, it’s not an encouraging matchup for Wheeler via the pitch data. However, some of that is mitigated by the pieces the Braves are currently missing. Yes, Nola fell apart but that seemed more a case of him losing it than anything. He was strong to start and I was as if someone hit the switch on him. Wheeler has a 9.8% swinging strike rate and a a puny 12% K rate.
He’s really cash only (and overpriced at that) because of the K rate so far. His calling card has been no hard contact at 27.2% and no fly balls at 22.5%. Neither side of the plate has over a .300 wOBA against Wheeler but the matchup means we should consider him. He’s certainly not my pitcher of choice. We’d just be aiming for safety here.
Kyle Hendricks
Pitch Data – FB – 10th CB – 4th CH – 16th
Another matchup where the pitch data may not look great, but Hendricks is very good at limiting damage. His ERA hasn’t been over 3.50 since 2015 and the FIP hasn’t been over 4.00 in his career. This year, the K rate has dipped a little to 19.7%. The White Sox might help him out though since they sit fourth in K rate at 26.1%.
Chicago showed last night that the lineup is certainly dangerous. Still, Hendricks doesn’t allow much hard contact at 36.4% and it’s hard to lift the ball on him at a 28.3% fly ball rate. Aiding that metric is the White Sox ranking 26th in flay ball rate to RHP at just 31.8%. Hendricks should be able to frustrate this mostly young White Sox lineup with his craftiness.
GPP Options
Triston McKenzie
McKenzie was also featured in Picks and Pivots so you can check out his breakdown there!
Dustin May
Pitch Data – FB – 8th CT – 20th
May is a really interesting case for this slate. He does throw a curve and a change but not really enough to consider here. I thought about putting him in cash but the reality is he’s only scored above 9.5 DK twice in five starts. Now, he’s still appealing because the Rockies have two different offenses. They have a good one in Coors and they have an abjectly awful one on the road. They even got Buehler a get right spot last night for the first time all year.
Colorado may also help out May’s lack of strikeouts since they have a 27.1% rate to RHP on the road. There’s no discernible advantage from either side of the plate, so the projected lineup shouldn’t be a huge concern from that aspect. I’m not a huge fan of the price but there’s definitely a reason to take the shot here with May flashing ceiling in two starts.
Justus Sheffield
Pitch Data – FB – 23rd SL – 30th CH – 18th
Sheffield arguably has the best pitch data matchup of the slate and that’s very nice tick in his direction. It also helps that he comes cheap still and the Rangers have been rough vs LHP so far. They rank sixth K rate at 27.1%, which should help out Sheffield’s 21.4% mark. Texas ranks no higher than 20th in average, OBP, OPS, wOBA and wRC+ vs LHP. Their best mark is the 18th best ISO, at .162.
The young lefty for the Mariners is combatting a mediocre K rate with a great fly ball rate of just 27.1%. Texas is right in the middle of the pack for fly ball rate at 17th overall. Sheffield is far from trustworthy, but with only one earned run over his past 12 IP he is rolling. The matchup is well worth considering.
Let’s get it tonight my friends!
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